U.S. Imperialism in Panama By: John Myslinski, Eric Mui And Mike Papili

The U.S. Involvement in Panama The U.S. got involved in Panama over the Panama Canal. If the U.S. was able to build a canal in Panama, its’ naval power would increase greatly because it links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The final result was the U.S. had control of the Canal and we had to pay $10 million dollars for the rights to the land, and $250,000 a year, but that yearly fee increased to 1.93 million dollars in 1955 until 1999 when Panama gained control over the canal.

Motives + Justifications The U.S motives were to build a canal to increase their trade and hopefully gain new markets to sell American goods to. The U.S. justifications was for military and economic gain by building a canal that would allow for an easier way to get to the Pacific from the Atlantic and vice versa.

The U.S. as a Superman Even though the U.S. went into Panama for purely economic and military gain for ourselves, in the process we helped out a lot of people. Created thousands of jobs for Panamanian laborers, even though they were hired by American contractors. Workers were also paid in food along with currency. Helped Panama overthrow the Colombians who owned Panama at the time, and during the revolution we sent the U.S.S. Nashville and a detachment of Marines to support the new government in Panama.

The U.S.’s Effect in Panama The effects of the U.S. in Panama were both positive and negative. Both the Panamanian and American markets benefited and still benefit from the canal today. We employed thousands of construction workers for the 10 years that the canal was being built, creating jobs for the people of Panama. Even after it was built, it supplied many families with a steady source of income because it created an easier way to conduct trade. Many workers died building the Panama Canal, many from the mosquitoes that would often carry Malaria or Yellow Fever.

Panama in Relation to the US

Works Cited 06/spreading%20the%20word/imperialism/impact_of_us _imperialism%20model.htm /imper/panama/panama.html alism%20and%20Struggle.htm The American Pageant