1914-The Panama Canal Opens
By Mitchell
Why the event is significant
On August 15, 1914, the Panama Canal was opened to traffic. In 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.
Background info
The narrow land bridge between North and South America houses the Panama Canal, a water passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Impact on America/American Literature
It wanted to expand its shipping and naval power between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It paid $10 million to Panama and $40 million to the French. U.S. engineers decided a lock canal would protect ships from landslides in the Andes Mountains.