Panama and the United States Influence

Panama and the United States Influence The pacific and the Caribbean Todays Objective After todays lesson, students will be able to

Explain Roosevelts influence in the CaribbeanDescribe the impact the United States had in Panama

Essential Skill

Gather and organize information and dataVideo ClipAs you watch the video clip on the Panama Canal, answer the questions on your sheet

Be prepared to share your answers following the clipPanama CanalIn 1903, Panama was still a part of Colombia, which refused John Hays offer to purchase the land and gain the rights to build a canal

Panamanians decided to declare their independence from Colombia and make their own deal with the U.S. to build the canalU.S. sent ships to Panama to prevent Colombia from interferingU.S. recognized Panamas independence and the two signed a treaty to have the canal builtPanama CanalTo sail from Atlantic to Pacific, ships navigated around Cape Horn, the treacherous southern tip of South America.

A New York to San Francisco trip measured some 13,000 miles and took months.

Panama CanalDr. William Gorgas was hired to eradicate yellow fever, like he had years before in Havana. He was able to accomplish his goal by killing the mosquitoes that carried the disease.Workers:Drained swamps, swept drainage ditches, paved roads, and installed plumbingSprayed pesticides by the tonEntire towns rose from the jungle complete with houses, schools, churches, and social halls.

Panama CanalIt is estimated that over 80,000 persons took part in the construction and that 30,000 lives were lost in both French and American efforts.

U.S President Theodore Roosevelt visiting the canal construction site.Panama CanalThe American expenditures from 1904 to 1914 totaled $352,000,000, far more than the cost of anything built by the United States Government up to that time. In todays money it would cost $7,448,028,707.72

1909 Lock ConstructionPanama CanalAt the Gatun Locks on the Atlantic side, workers poured enough concrete to build a wall 8' wide, 12' high, and 133 miles long. They built culverts the size of railroad tunnels to channel water from Gatun Lake into the locks.

Panama CanalBy August 15, 1914 the Panama Canal was officially opened by the passing of the SS Ancon.

Panama Canal

Figure 3: A map showing the route of the completed canal. A series of "locks" are used to control the water level within the canal. Panama Canal

ConclusionToday we learned

How Roosevelt impacted the Caribbean.

The events that led up to the development of the Panama Canal.