WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Led by Ferdinand de Lesseps-the builder of the Suez Canal in Egypt-the French began excavating in 1880. Malaria, yellow fever, and other tropical diseases conspired against the de Lesseps campaign and after 9 years and a loss of approximately 20, 000 lives, the French attempt went bankrupt.

Detailed explanation-2: -The dangerous, difficult work and insurmountable financial problems ultimately doomed the French effort to build a sea-level canal and the investors were financially devastated when the company liquidated in 1889. Workers lost even more with an estimated 20, 000 dead.

Detailed explanation-3: -The French first broke ground on the Panama Canal in 1881. The French started active work on January 20, 1882. On February 23, 1904, the United States acquired the canal from France. On May 4, 1904, the United States began work on the Panama Canal.

Detailed explanation-4: -In 1903, the United States supported a bloodless revolution in the Colombian province of Panama after the Colombian government rejected a U.S. treaty to acquire land in Panama to build the canal.

Detailed explanation-5: -Beset by cost overruns due to the severe underestimation of the difficulties in excavating the rugged terrain, heavy personnel losses to tropical diseases, and political corruption in France surrounding the financing of the massive project, the canal was only partly completed.