Outline of Chapter 14 Section 3: Panama- An Important Crossroads
I. Vasco Nuñez de Balboa
A. Balboa was a Spanish conquistador that was in search of gold.
1. In 1513, he heard of “a mighty sea beyond the mountains” of what is
now Panama. He also heard the streams flowing into it were filled with
gold.
2. Balboa organized an expedition and they struggled across the isthmus for
over a month. They finally waded into the Pacific Ocean and claimed it for
Spain.
3. Balboa hoped that a water route could be found through the isthmus but he
also thought, “it might not be impossible to make one.”
II. Why Build a Canal?
A. Panama Canal
1. The Panama Canal, a manmade waterway across the Isthmus of Panama,
is a shortcut through the Western Hemisphere.
2. The only way to get from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean by ship
without going all the way around South America.
3. It shortens the trip by 7,800 miles. This saves time and money.
B. The French Begin a Canal
1. In 1881, when Panama was part of Columbia, a French company gained the
rights to build a canal through Panama.
2. The builders struggled with mud slides, a mountain range, and a dense
tropical forest.
3. After several years the company went bankrupt and work on the canal
stopped.
4. In 1902, the United States government bought the French company’s
equipment.
5. Columbia refused to grant the United States rights to build the canal.
6. In 1903, the United States helped Panama revolt against Columbia.
7. Two weeks later, Panama declared independence and the United States
received the rights to build the Panama canal.
III. Building the Canal: A Heroic Effort
A. Lock
1. The Americans also face challenges when building the canal, including
building a dam.
2. A lock is a section of waterway in which ships are raised or lowered by
adjusting the water level.
3. It took eight years and more than 70,000 workers, mostly Caribbean
Islanders to build the Panama Canal.
4. It still remains one of the greatest engineering feats of modern times.
5. One of the biggest problems was disease. Some 20,000 workers died
of malaria and yellow fever.
6. 1900’s doctors discovered that malaria and yellow fever were both
carried by mosquitoes.
7. The Panama Canal company hired a doctor and a large crew to deal with
the problem.
a. Sulfur was burned in every house.
b. Every water vessel was covered with mesh.
c. Swampy breeding grounds were filled with dirt.
8. Without these efforts, the Panama Canal probably could not have been
built.
IV. Panama and Its Canal
A. The Canal Zone
1. The canal zone was an area containing the canal, the land on either side
of the canal, the ports, the port cities, and the railroad.
2. The treaty allowed the United States to govern this zone and invade
Panama to protect the canal.
3. The United States built 14 military bases in the Canal Zone and stationed
thousands of soldiers there.
B. Change of Ownership
1. Many Panamanians felt the United States had too much power in Panama
and held talks about transferring control of the canal to Panama.
2. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed two new treaties with Panama’s
government. These treaties gave Panama more control over the canal.
3. In 1999, Panama finally gained full control.
C. Panama Today
1. Panama has become an international crossroads for trade.
2. International trade is very important to Panama’s economy.
3. The ships that pass through the Canal each day pay tolls according to their
weight.
4. The Canal has made Panama a leading banking and finance center.
5. Every day, and average of 33 ships pass through the Panama Canal. It takes
each ship around 9 hours to cross from one ocean to the other. The Panama
Canal is like a water elevator with lakes. Ships are raised and lowered in the
locks as they travel from one ocean to the other.
D. Tourism
1. Another important industry in Panama is tourism
a. Panama Canal
b. Panama’s rain forest
c. Ecotourism: tourism in unspoiled areas to observe wildlife and learn
about the environment.
d. Howler monkeys, sloths, harpy eagles, and capybaras(huge rodents that
look like guinea pigs)