The Politics of the Panama Canal are confusing. This confusion includes the building, the economics and the operation of this facility. The canal, began in 1881 and finished in 1914(Dolan 55), has caused one country to fail, another to triumph, and another to gain its independence.

There was a need for a canal through the isthmus of Central America. The big question was who would step up and build it. France had just lost the Franco-Prussian War against Germany. The country felt that it had lost some prestige in eyes of other nations. There seemed only one certain way to restore its glory, undertake and complete the most challenging engineering feat in history. Build a canal through Central America and link the world's two greatest oceans. (Dolan 53)

The French chose Panama to build its canal because it was far narrower than Nica

The Second Decade: Panama at the Canal Treaties. U.S. Department of Dispatch, 1990

ragua, it's closet competitor. They obtained permission from Columbia to lay the waterway. (Dolan 53) A private company was founded in 1879 to raise the needed capital to undertake the construction. Appointed president of the company was Ferdind de Lesseps, who had guided the construction of the Suez Canal. (Panama)

When the Columbian Government refused to ratify the treaty, Panama revolted because they feared the United States would build through Nicaragua. After they declared their independence from Columbia, President Theodore Roosevelt ensured the success of the revolt when he ordered a U.S. warship to prevent Colombian troops from entering the isthmus. (Panama) Now Panama had its independence and the U.S. had the right to build the canal.

Another cost to the United States was an indemnity to Columbia of $25 million during the Wilson administration. Apparently this was to smooth out tensions between the two countries. As can be expected Columbia was infuriated by the aid Panama received from the United States. Now Columbia was evolving into one of the most important countries in South America, really only second to Brazil. It was a neighbor to the United State's canal and it had power. The payment was to insure America's investment. However this still angered former President Theodore Roosevelt. In a letter he wrote to Banau-Varilla, he said "Is that they are eager to take advantage of the deeds of the man of action when action is necessary and then eager to discredit him when the action is once over."(McCullough 617)

Some common words found in the essay are:
Central America, Panama Panamanians, Canal Company, Panama Canal, President Carter's, Panamanians Dolan, Panama December, United Panama, Hay-Banau-Varilla Treaty, American History, panama canal, build canal, canal zone, central america, canal panama, president theodore roosevelt, colombian government, dig panama, theodore roosevelt, president theodore, canal company, build canal central, canal central america, panama canal company, december 31 1999,
Approximate Word count = 2176
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)