Panama History Research Paper

Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, but is also full of history, tradition and life. It is known for its great folk music, deep heritage and culture. Nicaragua is hidden jewel with warm, gorgeous culture and breathtaking nature. It is surrounded by its incredible history, culture and nature.

The canal is bordered on both sides by the Panama Canal Zone, a strip of land given to the United States in 1903 but returned to Panama in 1979. The United States turned over the control of the canal to Panama in 1999. While the Panama Canal is a bridge of water connecting two oceans, building it ripped Panama apart. For Panama the opening of the canal meant a great boom in it's economy.

For centuries, the idea of how to access the West Indies puzzled many sailors from across the globe. During colonial times, Europeans coveted the spices and goods found in Asian countries, but the inability of their sponsored expeditions to discover a time-saving western passageway hindered their interaction with this region of the world. As time progressed, nations began to find ways to trade with Asia, but the routes taken were long, expensive, and hazardous. According to an article found in the publication, Civil Engineering, “… the only way for a ship to travel between the oceans was via the Strait of Magellan, at the southern tip of South America, a dangerous and time-consuming route.” However, in nineteen fourteen, their struggles finally ended. At last, the completion of the Panama Canal provided a shorter sea route between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean for trading countries all over the world. This occasion revolutionized sea travel and was consequently a widely documented and publicized event. Countless images and articles were created throughout the early twentieth century, which magnified the importance of this project. This collection of primary sources captures the significance of the Panama Canal for the American people and the international community at that time. The synchronic analysis of such documents will foster a greater appreciation for the Panama Canal and the influence it has had on civilization since its inception.

The United States began as an isolated country, only focusing on the matters going on within the nation. Overseas expansion, military strength, and the practice of Social Darwinism later became an interest to the nation’s development. Because there was a want for power, wealth and missionary zeal, the United States became an imperialistic country. As a result the construction of the Panama Canal became an important project to begin. Despite all the difficulties it faced during the process, the Panama Canal was completed and gave the nation great power.

Before they could begin building the Panama Canal they had to get permission from the Columbians to use their land to build on, but the Columbians refused to sign the agreement. Then the U.S. sent soldiers to Panama to help Panama gain their Independence. The Columbians could not beat the U.S., so Panama gained their

It is interesting to see how Americans saw themselves and their capitalistic system during the early 1900s. The American quest to civilize the world with plans like the Panama Canal was referred to as a gift, a selfless act from the United States for the betterment of mankind (Herring 2008, 337). I am certain that the Panama Canal created many opportunities for the people in Central America, but was it in fact a sign of American kindness or was that canal done because it increased trade, income, and improved security in the United States? Furthermore, how wrong was Norman Angell? His theory did not hold for more than four years. Mankind is incapable of achieving peace and will continue to live in a constant state of struggle. Additionally, the early 1900s had a resemblance to the Cold War that started four decades later. The Russians and the British encircled Germany and contained her, and yet Stalin was surprise when the allies did the same to him after WWII?

Opening Statement: "The imperialistic relationship that the US had over Panama was important in allowing Panama to become independent from other nations. I believe that even though the United States did not push for the separatists at first, it is clear from the United States past engagements in Panama and the United States later engagements in Korea and Vietnam that the United States was pushing for a mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries. Americas imperialistic relationship not only spread democracy to Panama, but it also provided Panama with financial support, and it saved the country from sure destruction by other countries and evil dictators." Pros of American Imperialism 1) Democracy Spread from America

In the early 8th century, the Maya city-state of Tikal were known to eclipse all rivals, becoming the most populous polity in the Americas. As many as 62,000 Maya nobles, artisans, and others squeezed into Tikal’s crowded residential districts in what is now Guatemala. During the century that followed, however, Tikal fell on hard times. Its building boom collapsed, its artists ceased to carve hieroglyphic inscriptions and paint murals, population plummeted, and its kings vanished. The author in this article argues that Tikal was not alone to suffer such horrific disintegration. Because elsewhere 324,000-square-kilometer area spanning southeastern Mexico and upper Central America dozens of other city-states also crumbled between 695 and 1050

Known as one of the greatest engineering feats in all of history, the Panama Canal is an essential asset for international trade and travel today, uniting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans across the Central American Isthmus in Panama, Colombia. Its construction required the perseverance, innovation, time and money of at first, France and of second, America. Construction began with Frenchman, Ferdinand de Lesseps at the helm of the project in the early 1880’s; however, dreams of a Central American canal were had as early as the 1500’s with the Spanish and Christopher Columbus. His plan was to dig a sea level canal, similar to a successful one he had made previously. But after nearly 8 years of futile labor, and lack of progress, Lesseps

In order to get to the Pacific Ocean from the east coast of the United States you must either, go around Canada, go around South America, or go all the way around the world. These were the only ways to get to the Pacific from the Atlantic Ocean until 1914. The most common way the American navy would get there was around South America. In many instances when there was problems on the west or east coast that needed naval intervention it took a significant amount of time for the navy to reinforce them. This could end up being a serious problem for the United States if there was any large scale problem on the west or east coast that involved the navy, it could take a detrimental amount of time for the reinforcements to arrive. They needed a way to connect the two seas so that it could help them to reduce the time necessary to get from one coast to another and so that other ships could get access to both seas without much trouble. The creation of the Panama Canal was the most efficient and effective way to connect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

During the late 1800s, a French company had tried to link the Atlantic to the Pacific across the Isthmus of Panama but failed. The French had abandoned the attempt to build and convinced the U.S. to buy the company’s claim. In 1903, the U.S. government purchases the Panama route for $40 million. Roosevelt stepped in and dispatched warships to the waters off Panama to support a Panamanian rebellion against Colombia. Soon after that, Panama declared its independence from Colombia. Panama immediately granted America control over the “canal zone.” America payed Panama $10 million and an annual rent of $250,000 to secure the

A private yacht charter in the Bahamas is the ideal way to vacation on the water. Cruise ships may be nice for some people, but I couldn't imagine the lack of privacy or control over my own schedule. Private yacht charters allow you to make your holiday truly yours, and you are not at the mercy of a staff that must cater to hundreds of others passengers. The peace and beauty of the Bahamas is better appreciated on a private yacht rather than a crowded cruise ship surrounded by strangers.

On December 20 of 1989, 26,000 U.S. troops invaded Panama in ‘‘Operation Just Cause’’ to expel and capture the country's strong man, the former general Manuel Antonio Noriega and destroy his military. No honest Panamanian, no human being can be indifferent to the horror of war, one can justify the thousands of dead innocent civilians. ‘‘Forget Prohibited’’ as many Panamanians says for this day, the world's most powerful country United States of North America, economic and military power was the right throw unwarranted. No declaration of war, to attack and invade a small country of 2 million inhabitants in that time.

There are many differing theories as to why the United States chose to invade Panama. Some historians claim it was a primarily prompted to the continuation against the threat of communism. It is hard to take into account since the threat was considerably weakened by this point. Others maintain that the goal was protection of both the citizens and democracy, without any additional motives. If that was the case, the United States would have been inclined to carry out the invasion much earlier, even shortly after he took power. A belief is also circulated that Noriega’s drug trafficking and disregard for international agreements led to the invasion. Again, Noriega had been involved in drug trafficking for years and the U.S. chose to ignore his

People living on the isthmus were dissenting from the Columbian government and eventually revolted and set up the independent Republic of Panama. “It was Roosevelt who “took the isthmus,” regardless of the niceties of international law and Congressional debate.” – The Good Neighbor: Teddy’s Big Ditch, Building the Canal. When the Panamanians revolted Teddy saw this as the perfect investment to get the canal underway. He supported the Panamanians and sent warships to stop any help from the Columbian government to put down the rebellion. The Panamanians declared their independence and were very grateful towards the Americans. The Americans leased a strip of land, called the Panama Canal Zone, for $10,000,000. The land was forty-five miles long and ten miles wide and the American’s paid a $430,000 rent every year. In 1904, they agreed to let the United