Panama Canal

Clayton-Bulwer Treaty (1850)

U.S. and Britain agreed to jointly build a canal in Central America.

French Panama Canal Attempt (1879–1889)

Failed due to disease, difficult terrain, and poor planning.

Ferdinand de Lesseps

French engineer who unsuccessfully attempted to build the Panama Canal.

Hay-Pauncefote Treaty (1901)

Britain allowed the U.S. to build and control the Panama Canal alone.

Hay-Herrán Treaty (1903)

U.S. tried to get land from Colombia to build the canal; Colombia rejected.

Panama Revolution (1903)

U.S. supported Panama’s independence from Colombia.

Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty

ave U.S. control of the Panama Canal Zone.

Panama Canal (1904–1914)

Built by U.S. using a lock-and-dam system to connect Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

William Gorgas

Controlled yellow fever and malaria during canal construction.

George Goethals

Chief engineer who successfully implemented the lock system for the canal.