Panama Canal Research Paper

220 Words1 Pages
The Idea for the Panama canal dates all the way back to the 1600s. During the 1600s a Spanish explorer discovered the isthmus of Panama. This discovery sparked a search for a natural waterway across Panama. After not being able to discover one the search was given up. Until 1881 when the French started to build the canal. In 1904, the United States took over the project.

Americans originally had plans to construct the canal in nicaragua. Their views changed after the French engineer Philippe-Jean Bunau-Varilla, Philippe was involved in both canal constructions in France. He stated that nicaragua had dangerous volcanoes and persuaded them to move the project to Panama. The United States shelled out a staggering 375 million dollars. 40 million