The Panama Canal

The Panama Canal was a project that was started by the French. This project was later finished by the Americans.

The plans for the Panama Canal were first created by King Charles V in 1539. However, the plan did not become possible until the Panama railway would be constructed. "The Panama Canal was constructed in two stages." (Source). Ferdinan de Lesseps, who had constructed the Suez Canal, was the first to attempt building the Panama Canal.

The French began building the Panama Canal in the 1800s. However, this project had to be stopped due to disease, engineering problems and lack of money. The project for the canal was taken up again by America in 1904.

Before the U.S. decided to build the canal in Panama, they considered building it in Nicaragua. However, when a volcano erupted in that area and destroyed a city, they decided to build it in Panama. The Panama canal would be a great benefit to the U.S. navy. Book source. However, the sanitation issues were still a problem and there were still the mosquitoes that were infected with yellow fever and malaria. Book Source. "The Panama Canal opened to oceangoing vessels on Aug. 15, 1914." (Source).

The Panama Canal was a project that was started by the French, but they had to stop construction due to disease, engineering problems and lack of money. This project was later finished by the U.S. in 1914.