Brief History of Panama Canal

The Panama Canal history dates back to the 1500’s, when the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, along with the king of Spain spoke about the convenience a canal would provide for ships traveling to and from Peru and Spain. The all-water route was an ideal solution and it was known it would be a major lifeline of Panama and other countries.

The canal route was decided when the Panama railway was built in 1855. It served as a facilitator for trade. In the late 1800’s, the French began work on the Panama canal, but over 22,000 workers died throughout the attempt due to poor conditions and yellow fever and malaria. Eventually, the French abandoned the idea as being impossible of building a canal at sea level. In addition, much of the equipment was rusted due to downpours.

In 1902, Theodore Roosevelt bought out the French, along with their equipment and excavation materials and the United States Army began work on the Canal. The canal took 10 years to build, with less deaths than with the French because of the advances in hygiene. However, because of the United States assistance with freeing Panama from Columbia, Panama paid the United States back by giving them control over the Panama Canal Zone. However, Panama Canal history states that the Panamanians became bitter about the fact that the U.S. had rights to the canal and tensions rose as the U.S. controlled the canal. With the protests and the rallies of the canal, in 1974 a new negotiation took place and they came up with the Torrijos-Carter Treaties signed by Jimmy Carter, the United States President. This treaty gave the canal entirely to Panama to control and as their own as long as the United States could come back any time that they wanted.

The Panama Canal History is extremely important because the Panama Canal is the blood line of Panama providing for importing and exporting goods in and out via cargo ships and freights. It was known that the Panama Canal would be the savior even in the 1500’s, but back then they didn’t have the means to even try. The French tried, but due to poor health conditions and lack of knowledge, it failed. Almost 50 miles long, the Panama Canal is an absolutely amazing triumph.