Perhaps TR's greatest achievement as POTUS was securing the land for, and moving ahead with the construction of, the Panama Canal. But, as with most things, it was not without controversy.
Do some independent research on the Panama Canal origins and construction.
For the comments...
1) Create a Top Ten list of the ten most interesting facts you learned about the Panama Canal. (100 words minimum)
2) Do you think the shady way in which TR secured the land from Colombia takes away from the "greatness" of this achievement? (100 words minimum)
1.)
ReplyDeleteThe idea for a canal across Panama dates back to the 16th century. In 1513, Vasco Nunez came across the Isthmus of Panama and decided that the ship canal would be impossible to build
America originally wanted to build a canal in Nicaragua, not Panama.
More than 25,000 workers died during the canal’s construction.
Between 13,000 and 14,000 ships use the canal every year.
The canal is being expanded to handle today’s megaships. In 2007, work began on a $5.25 billion expansion project
They took 10 years to complete the canal
The smallest toll was paid by Richard Halliburton in 1928. He paid $0.36 to swim the canal.
One of the highest tolls paid was by the Crown Princess. This ship is a passenger superliner and they had to pay $144,344.91 U.S.
During construction there were times when more than 43,000 people were working on the canal.
A dam was built to help provide water for the canal in the 1930s called the Madden Dam. (174)
2) When Theodore Roosevelt first wanted to build the Panama Canal Columbia said no, but TR continued his vision. President Roosevelt sent some American warships to the area as a show of force. Even though the ships did not fire shots this was a way the America persuaded Colombia to let Panama alone. His actions showed Big Stick Diplomacy. I believe that the way Theodore gained the land was a little shady but it was an important thing that had to be done. I don’t really believe that it takes away the “greatness" but it definitely isn’t something to be praised. (100)
The Panama Canal is over 100 years old right now.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
The construction of this cost over 25,000 people their life.
It is considered on of the man made wonders of the world.
Over 1 million vessels have transited the canal since it opened.
2 billion dollars in tolls are collected annually very often.
It was expanded for bigger ships in 2016 so that they would fit.
It takes 8-10 hours to pass through the Panama Canal
It was one of the first projects to us or have the idea of using concrete.
The same gates that were built are still their today so they use them still.(100)
No I do not, I think that it is still a great achievement because it is being used all the time and it was needed and TR made it happen so everybody was happy with it and this is my opinion I think it was a great idea and he went after and got the job done. (100)
1. In 1881, the French started construction of the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal is a waterway that was built across the strip of land connecting North and South America.
ReplyDelete2. French construction progress stopped due to engineering problems and a high rate of worker deaths.
3. Workers on the canal had to deal with intense heat, jungles, swamps, and all of the creatures that lived in those environments. This included, rats that carried the bubonic plague and mosquitoes that carried diseases like yellow-fever and malaria.
4. Over 20,000 workers died during French building efforts.
5. The United States took over the construction of the canal in 1904.
6. The US completed the project with newly available technology in 1914 at a cost of $400 million dollars.
7. As the United States President during this time, the construction of the Panama Canal was one of Theodore Roosevelt's most famous accomplishments.
8. Before the canal was built, ships had to make a long voyage around the tip of South America. Once the canal was dug across Panama, it saved ships many thousands of miles of travel between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Today, it takes about eight hours to cross the Canal's 50 miles.
9. In 1914, the year it opened, about 1000 ships used the canal. Today, nearly 15,000 ships pass through the Isthmus of Panama via the Canal annually.
10. The Panama Canal is considered one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World. According to the American Society of Civil Engineer, it is one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken. (258)
In 1901, Theodore Roosevelt became President of the United States. He firmly believed in expanding American power in the world. To accomplish this, he wanted to build a strong navy; and he needed a way for the navy to sail quickly between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Roosevelt decided to build that waterway. The most likely place was at the thinnest point of land: Panama. Nicaragua was also considered and Roosevelt appointed a committee to decide the best location. Engineers said it would cost less to complete a canal that had been started in the eighteen eighties in Panama. This option would mean that the United States would have to buy the land and building rights from a French company. The committee decided the price was high, so they proceeded with the Nicaraguan option. But ultimately it was determined there were too many earthquakes in the area for engineering construction. So, the United States turned their attention back the Panama. The United States needed permission from Columbia in order to build the canal, because in those days Panama was part of that country. Colombia refused, apparently hoping to be offered a bigger payment. Colombia's refusal did not cause Roosevelt to give up on the canal project. Roosevelt knew that the people of Panama wanted independence from Columbia. Some say he exploited this to his advantage. Roosevelt knew an independent Panama would want to build the canal, so he sent American warships to the region as a “show of force” to Columbia. Although the ships never fired any shots, Columbia was sent a clear message to leave Panama alone. This approach was criticized by some and called, “Big Stick Diplomacy.” The idea of “walk softly, but carry a big stick” refers to the approach of negotiating peacefully, but also having strength in case things go wrong. In other words, critics felt Roosevelt should have used normal diplomacy talks (walking softly) between the two nations, rather than a “show of force” (or big stick) by the military. Yes, Roosevelt and the United States did impose their power to accomplish the construction of the canal, and this caused many tensions between the countries involved. However, that does not take away from the greatness of Roosevelt’s achievement. He was a strong leader who saw a need to advance the United States, both commercially and militarily and he made this happen by the construction of the Panama Canal. (403)
1.The Gatun Lake,is an artificial lake created to reduce the amount of excavation work required for the canal, 26 m (85 ft) above sea level.
ReplyDelete2. A third, wider lane of locks was constructed after the original to between September 2007 and May 2016.
3. France worked on the canal before the US in 1881, but stopped due to engineering problems and a high worker mortality rate.
4. It took the US 10 years to finish it and it was one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken.
5. Colombia, France, and later the United States controlled the territory surrounding the canal during construction.
6. The earliest mention of a canal across the Isthmus of Panama occurred in 1534, when Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor the king of Spain ordered it.
7. Thomas Jefferson himself In 1788 the minister to to France at the time suggested that the Spanish should build the canal since it would be a less treacherous route for ships than going around the southern tip of South America
8. The lowest toll ever paid was 36 cents by American Richard Halliburton who swam the Panama Canal in 1928.
9. The Panama Canal is 51 miles long
10. It takes 11.38 hours to pass through the Panama Canal
I personally don’t think the shady way Teddy Roosevelt secured the land from Columbia takes away from the greatness of the achievement. I don’t think it’s able to be logically concluded that Teddy Roosevelt helping start a revolution which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people was moral by any means. Yet, the morality of the means of a construction isn’t a factor in the greatest of an architectural marvel since it doesn’t deal with the construction itself. As it just made the construction itself possible. Thus, while the means of acquiring the possibility to construct the canal wasn’t upright in any sense it does not change the “greatness” of the fact that a wonder of the world was made that artificially connected the oceans.(126)
Word count for the first was 216
ReplyDeleteIt's considered one of the Man-Made Wonders of the World
ReplyDeleteThe idea for a canal across Panama dates back to the 16th century
America originally wanted to build a canal in Nicaragua, not Panama.
More than 25,000 workers died during the canal’s construction.
Between 13,000 and 14,000 ships use the canal every year.
The United States transferred control of the canal to Panama in 1999.
The canal is being expanded to handle today’s megaships
It cost about $400 million U.S. to build and ten years
During construction there were times when more than 43,000 people were working on the canal.(100)
President Teddy Roosevelt sent American warships to the areas around the canals to intimidate the people their and to show force. This was a great accomplishment for America and many other countries for trade concerns. President Teddy Roosevelt killed many people and destroyed so much for this land. I believe this was very influential and was a great thing but I think President Teddy Roosevelt could have handled the situation differently.
(100)
1) (1)The US started construction on the Panama Canal in 1904 and it opened 10years later in 1914. (2) King Charles 1 of Spain is said to be the first to try and build a canal through the isthmus of Panama, but ultimately didn’t go with it as it was deemed impossible for the time. (3) France was the first to attempt to build the canal though in 1880. (4) the canal is 50 miles long. (5) The US bought the the French assets in the Canal Zone for $40million dollars in 1902. (6) Panama gave the US exclusive and permanent possession of the zone were the canal is located. (7) In return, Panama received $10million and an annuity of $250thousand starting nine years later. (8) The negotiation was seen by many in Panama as an infringement on their new national sovereignty. (9) They found a way to kill off diseased misquotes after fear of yellow fever and malaria scared off the work force. (10) Oversight of the canal was given to Panama by the US in 1999.
ReplyDelete2) No, I do not think it was. Although the way he went about getting the rights to build it might not have been morally up there, it was somewhat necessary because of how important the canal is. The canal is a very well placed route between the Pacific and the Atlantic and incredibly quickened trade. The inability to see how important this was going to be was a huge oversight. Roosevelt was completely in the right to try everything in his power to gain such a crucial piece of land that could change the way trading for the greater.(277)
1.The Panama Canal is over 100 years old and is a narrow waterway between the Atlantic and pacific
ReplyDelete2.The process to get it built cost over 25,000 workers died due to weather conditions
3.The canal averages from 13,000 through 14,000 ships a year through it
4.Panama was not are first choice for the canal it was Nicaragua but we decided to build in Panama instead
5.The canal makes over 2 billion dollars in tolls annually what is a pretty big number
6.It is considered one of the man made wonders of the world
7.The canal was mainly built to help transport goods around the world what helped expand are trade
8.Building the Panama Canal took over 10 years
9.The Panama Canal helped the US by making more jobs and bringing in money also cutting time down getting from place to place
10. TR believes that the canal is one of the best things he did for the US (160)
I believe the way he got the land was probably not the best way and it could have been settled without a lot of deaths. I would not say it takes from the greatness of the US getting the Panama Canal because he showed that are army is strong by taking over Panama to build the canal. He also showed that he did not care if he was told no he was going to get what he thought was best for the US. This could be good for the US and bud but what he did was good for us because it helped are trade and transport of goods. The canal also brought in money for the United States in tolls. In conclusion, I do not think it takes away from its greatness and that it was very beneficial for us. (141)
The territory where the panama canal is located was originally cloumbian, then french, then american, and eventually panamanian
ReplyDeleteSince its completion the ship traffic has increased from 1,000 to 14,702. A total of 815,000 ships have passed through it
The first person to envision the canal was Vasco Nunez de Balboa
Many prospectors in the mid-1800s used this route during the california gold rush.
There was approximately about 30,000,000 lbs of explosives used to clear the way for the canal.
It cost about $400 million to build and ten years.
The diseases the workers had to fight off included malaria and yellow fever. They laso had to cut through jungles, swamps, and the creatures within
A dam was built to help provide water for the canal
A landslide closed the canal in 1915 for several months
To cross the canal you had to pay a toll
I think roosevelt did the right thing building the panama canal. No matter the cost he knew it had to be done and that it would help ships carrying goods to different countries. The ways he acquired the land to build the canal is not enough to trump the many positives of the canal that it has done for the shorter travel for ships
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1 More than 6 million pounds of dynamite was used to extract the rocks and such and build and construct the canal.
ReplyDelete2 In 1963 fluorescent lighting was installed, which allowed the canal to be able to operate 24 hours a day.
3 Around 12,000 and 15,000 ships cross the Panama canal every year (which is almost 40 a day)
4 Almost 20,000 French and 6,000 American workers died during the makings and completion of the panama canal
5 Any ship crossing the canal must pay a toll based on how much their ship weighs. In 2008 a Disney cruise ship paid the highest toll to date, $330,000.
6 In 1928 Richard Halliburton swam the length of the Panama Canal. Just like the boats he had to pay a toll for how much he weighed. It was a total of 36 cents.
7 The Canal transports 4 percent of world trade and 16 percent of total U.S. borne trade.
8 The United States uses the canal the most and then China, Japan, Chile and North Korea.
9 The panama canal joined the atlantic and pacific oceans in 1914.
10 It is a 50 mile long pathway through Panama, and was created to give ships a shortcut through the South America so they didn’t have to travel all the way around.
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America needed to get approval from Columbia in order to to build the canal but Columbia said no, hoping to be offered a bigger payment. Roosevelt didn’t give up just because they told him no. He knew many people in Panama wanted to break away from Columbia and form their own country. Roosevelt sent a “message of support” basically to the leaders of the revolt because he knew the people that wanted to make their own Panama would want a canal built. Roosevelt sent American warships to the area to just show basically how powerful we were. They never even fired a shot. Just by the ships being there, they sent a message to Columbia to leave Panama alone. Roosevelt’s critics started calling this the “Big Stick Diplomacy”. It was a way to criticize the president because he used force instead of normal just talks between two nations. (148)
The Panama Canal is considered one of the wonders of the world. It takes nearly twelve hours to cross through the canal, and it is 51 miles long. The Canal was originally supposed to be in Nicoraugua, but they ended up building it in Panama, and President Roosevelt ended up using force when Panama refused to let the U.S. build the canal there. The idea for the canal itself dated all the way back to 1513, but it took a while to complete. Over 25,000 worker died during the building of the Canal. The canal costed over 400 million dollars to build.(102)
ReplyDeleteI think Teddy definitely did use a shady way of getting the canal to be built, but it needed to be built so I don’t think he was wrong. He randomly placed warships to threaten the people and basically say they were building the canal whether they liked it or not, and so I definitely think that was shady. Like I said though, he definitely wasn’t wrong, we needed the canal, and him pressing to get it built is the right thing to do, he definitely could have done it a better way, and not be so enforcing. I think overall it worked out.(104)
1.)The Panama Canal cost American around $375,000,000, including the $10,000,000 paid to Panama and the $40,000,000 paid to the French company. It was the single most expensive construction project in United States history at that time.
ReplyDeleteIn 1977 U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian dictator Omar Torrijos signed a treaty to turn over the canal to Panama by the end of the century.
They took 10 years to complete the canal.
5,609 workers died of diseases and accidents during construction.
The majority of the men who died working for the U.S. were natives to the area. Only 350 of the U.S. deaths were white Americans.
The channel through the canal has an average depth of about 43 feet.
The cost of moving a ship through the Panama Canal is around $450,000 per passage.
Passing through the Panama Canal each year saves ships the 7,900 mile trip.
The new 2016 locks are wide and long enough to move US Carriers through the Panama canal.
The cheapest trip was paid by Richard Halliburton, who swam the Panama Canal in 1928. Halliburton’s total was only 36 cents. (196)
2.) I believe that the U.S. did acquire the canal wrongfully. TR did not take Columbia’s no for an answer. While I am grateful for the Panama Canal and how much easier and faster it has made travel by sea, I also think that few people have heard about the shady dealings of Teddy. However, TR deserves credit for building the canal and is responsible for the U.S. owning it. I am very grateful that the canal worked out like it did. Without it ships would have to sail all the way around South America which would take much longer. (101)
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