USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -President Theodore Roosevelt oversaw the realization of a long-term United States goal-a trans-isthmian canal. Throughout the 1800s, American and British leaders and businessmen wanted to ship goods quickly and cheaply between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

Detailed explanation-2: -The grand opening of the Panama Canal occurred on August 15, 1914, during the presidency of Woodrow Wilson. There was little fanfare since World War I was erupting in Europe. Theodore Roosevelt’s “great enterprise, ” completed six months ahead of schedule, cost $352 million.

Detailed explanation-3: -Shortly after ascending to the presidency, Roosevelt spoke of the Panama Canal in a speech to Congress. “No single great material work which remains to be undertaken on this continent, ” Roosevelt said, “is as of such consequence to the American people."

Detailed explanation-4: -One of President Jimmy Carter’s greatest accomplishments was negotiating the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, which were ratified by the U.S. Senate in 1978. These treaties gave the nation of Panama eventual control of the Panama Canal.

Detailed explanation-5: -France was ultimately the first country to attempt the task. Led by Count Ferdinand de Lesseps, the builder of the Suez Canal in Egypt, the construction team broke ground on a planned sea-level canal in 1880.