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Graphic Novel
He‛s a larger than life
kind of guy. Most folks
call him T.R., or Teddy.
For years people dreamed of a
channel crossing the isthmus of Panama, a
37-mile-wide strip of mosquito-infested jungle
separating the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Faced with many obstacles, Theodore Roosevelt,
the 26th president of the United States, was
the man who finally made that dream come true.
Speak Softly and Dig a Big Ditch
I proclaim that this new sea,
and all the land it touches, belongs to
His Majesty King Ferdinand of Spain.
25 days to go
45 miles—this place is
fit for El Diablo!
I know a thing or two
about canals, I built the
Suez Canal. This one should
be a piece of cake.
Quel Dommage!
This project—
she is impossible.
I‛m outta here.
I never want to see
another mosquito!
In 1881, after buying the rights
to the isthmus from Colombia, the
French began construction of a
canal under Ferdinand De Lesseps.
Great profits were anticipated.
The French were eager for a
shortcut to avoid the long and
dangerous route around South
America and Cape Horn.
Whew,
it‛s hot here!
The French efforts ended in 1889,
troubled by the harsh climate, disease,
and financial mismanagement.
Speak Softly and Dig a Big Ditch
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce this page for classroom use.
In 1513, Vasco Núñez de Balboa
was the first European to cross
the isthmus of Panama
to reach the Pacific Ocean.
We can pick up where
the French left off
—only better.
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce this page for classroom use.
Let‛s make
it happen!
We‛ll give France $40 million
for the partial canal and
all the equipment.
Oui, oui, it‛s a deal.
Now all you need is
the okay from Colombia.
Roosevelt and his Secretary of State,
John Hay, knew that whoever controlled
the completed canal would have a
military and economic advantage.
Grrrrr!
If it were up to me,
it would be a go.
The Colombian Congress
doesn‛t like the deal.
Teddy will find a way!
You know, Mr. President,
the Panamanians want their
independence from Colombia.
Let‛s make sure
they get it.
November, 1903
In support of Panamanian
independence, ten U.S. warships
were sent to Panama City, as well
as a large U.S. military force.
Speak Softly and Dig a Big Ditch
When Panamanian leaders
declared independence,
Colombia was powerless to stop it.
Libertad!
Woo Hoo!
Problem solved!!
Viva
Panamá!
Adios,
Colombia!
But not everyone on Capitol Hill was happy.
Panama? Why there?
It should be in Nicaragua!
Two days later, the newly
formed nation of Panama
signed a treaty with the
United States, securing the
canal zone and rights to build
for $10 million.
Get me the best
engineers and commanders—
we‛re building a canal.
Colombia is furious with us.
This will hurt our relationships
in Latin America.
I took the isthmus, started the
canal, and then left Congress not to
debate the canal, but to debate
me…But while the debate goes on the
canal does too.
Speak Softly and Dig a Big Ditch
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How can Teddy send
U.S. troops without
our approval?
He‛s gone too far.
All we have to do is dam the
Chagres River, using several
locks, to create lakes and
control the water flow.
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The isthmus is above sea level. A system of
locks is needed to raise ships to the higher
elevations, then back down to sea level.
Construction began in 1904,
but from the beginning, the effort
was riddled with problems.
along with torrential rains
and dangerous mudslides.
Problems included
blazing heat and humidity,
poor housing and food,
Most serious of all, disease and illness plagued
the canal workers. Mosquitoes that carried
yellow fever and malaria were everywhere. After
one year, the effort seemed destined for failure.
Teddy will fix
this problem!
Speak Softly and Dig a Big Ditch
Things started to look up when
John Stevens was appointed
chief engineer in 1905.
Gorgas had standing water and ditches drained and screens installed. Within
two years most of the deadly mosquitoes were eliminated, reviving canal
construction as well as local towns and businesses.
Pedro Miguel Canal Zone:The President visited the
canal construction zone personally in 1906, trying
his hand at operating a steam shovel and eating
lunch with canal workers.
Hey!
Watch it!
It‛s hard to keep
a guy like Teddy sitting
around at home.
Speak Softly and Dig a Big Ditch
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You‛ve built railroads through swamps,
deserts, and mountains. Stevens, I want
you to take over canal construction
and get us back on track.
.
The mosquitoes had to be
controlled for construction
to be successful. The first
thing Stevens did was ask
Colonel William Gorgas to put
his anti-mosquito strategies
to work.
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In May 1913, the Panama Canal—a system of lakes, locks,
and dams was completed. It was one of the greatest feats
in engineering history. The canal required a tremendous
amount of time, labor, and money, as well as the personal
force of a remarkable president, to build.
It‛s about time.
President Roosevelt, though no longer in office at the time
of its completion, had left a lasting legacy.
“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs,
even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those
poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they
live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt, "The Strenuous Life”
Speak Softly and Dig a Big Ditch
Speak Softly and Dig a Big Ditch
GRAPHIC NOVEL
Background Summary
In the late 1800s, the United States wanted to expand its holdings and ports around the world
in order to increase trade. The isthmus in Panama, controlled by Colombia, was one target of
expansion. Building a canal across the isthmus to link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans would
increase trade as well as add naval protection. President Theodore Roosevelt understood the
advantages of a canal and pushed for its creation. This novel shows the many obstacles he overcame to gain control of the canal zone and complete the canal’s construction.
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce this page for classroom use.
In 1901, the United States bought the rights to own and run the canal from France for $40 million. Part of this treaty included negotiating land rights with Colombia, but Colombia refused to
agree to a deal. In an effort to acquire the land, Roosevelt and Secretary of State John Hay
encouraged the Panamanian people to declare independence. Two days after declaration, the newly
formed nation of Panama and the American government signed a treaty. The United States
secured the canal zone and the rights to build the canal for $10 million.
Construction of the canal began in 1904 and was riddled with problems from the beginning.
While the canal workers faced disease, poor living conditions, and forces of nature, Roosevelt
dealt with the political problems. The President continued to push for the project’s completion.
The canal opened on August 15, 1914—with little notice from the rest of the world, which was
distracted by the start of WWI. France and the United States spent over $639 million on the Panama Canal. Canal construction required the work of 80,000 people and over 30,000 lives were
lost in the effort.
Activities
Illustrating
Although the Panamanians tried to gain independence before 1903, they were unsuccessful until
the United States government intervened. In the 1890s, the Hawaiian government was overthrown and the territory was eventually annexed and became a state. These actions were
opposed by the majority of Hawaiians. Americans disagreed about the government’s action in
both Hawaii and Panama. Have students review the text and create a graphic organizer comparing American actions and motivation in Panama and Hawaii. Discuss their findings in class. Would
they have supported the president in these cases?
Opinion Writing
Explain how the work done by the government or a business for a specific purpose can affect an
entire community—positively or negatively. Ask students why getting rid of the mosquitoes to
build the canal also helped businesses and towns in Panama. What types of construction or work
done today might have similar affects?