Lesson 14: The Panama Canal Introduction

Introduction

 

Important Icon In this lesson, you will consider the significance of the construction and completion of the Panama Canal

and how it influenced the United States and the world. Important Icon

Focus Questions:

How was America’s influence in the world changing at the turn of the century? 

What changes did America make that influenced world issues? 

Why might America have looked more powerful at the end of the century in the eyes of other countries?

image-1.png The Panama Canal

Take a look at the map below. If you wanted to ship something by sea from New York (point A) to San Francisco (point B), what would be the shortest route that you could take? Is there a way (remember we are shipping by sea) this route could be shortened?

Theodore Roosevelt emerged as a hero of the Spanish American War, and succeeded McKinley as President when McKinley was assassinated in 1901. Prior to his presidency, Roosevelt served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 1897 to 1898. During the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt saw first-hand the need for a canal to connect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. 

During Roosevelt’s tenure as President, construction finally began on the Panama Canal.

  In your journal:  Print the notes page and complete it as you go through the slides. If you do not have access to a printer, another option is to draw/write your notes page in your social studies journal.

Panama Canal Notes Download Panama Canal Notes

View the slideshow below as an introduction to the construction and completion of the Panama Canal. 

 Interactive

Now, we will review some of the key terms you learned today. Throughout this unit, we will learn new words while adding to the key terms we have already learned. Add these new words to the table you started in lesson 1. You will also review the key terms from our previous lessons.

 

 

With the construction of the Panama Canal at the turn of the century, the United States opened up efficient trade for not only themselves but the entire world. In addition to trade, the Panama Canal also opened the door for military advancement. Now, the United States could efficiently travel between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

 

 

   

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