The Panama Canal - Maps
Directions: Use the “Central American and The Panama Canal Map,” “The Panama Canal Map,” and our
class discussion to answer these questions. Be sure to read any text available!
1. In what direction do ships passing through the canal from the Caribbean Sea travel?
2. How might the physical characteristics of the proposed Nicaraguan canal route make it a desirable location for the canal?
3. What is it about the western Panamanian site that would have complicated plans to build the canal there?
4. Compared with the other proposed routes, what would you say are the advantages of the Panamanian site that was finally
chosen?
5. What physical characteristics made Panama a poor choice for a canal site? (even though that is where it was finally built)
Hint: Think geography and note the clues on the Panama Canal map to help answer this question.
6. To what extent was the Panama Canal one of the greatest engineering feats of all time? Provide examples to support your
answer.
7. In 1978, two treaties between the United States and Panama gave Panama control of the canal beginning December 31,
1999. They also gave the United States the right to defend the canal’s neutrality. What do you think are the pros and cons of
these treaties?
8. Using the four factors of imperialism noted on the chalkboard, provide an example of how each might apply to the building of
the Panama Canal.
9. And finally . . . Please answer the following question in your warm-up journal: To what extent does building the
Panama Canal illustrate America’s desire to expand our influence in the world?
Panama Canal Chronology
Directions: Starting with the oldest date, place the following items in chronological order in the Pre-lesson column. Make any
corrections in the Post-lesson column when you have learned the details about US involvement with the Panama Canal.
Pre-lesson Post-lesson
_____ US President helps with the digging _____
_____ US military show-up near Colombia _____
_____ Dr. Gorgas makes a post-war discovery _____
_____ Approximately 5% of all world trade passed through _____
_____ French begin digging _____
_____ Revolution in Panama (1903) _____
_____ Railroad opened _____
_____ Decision to use locks and as a result create a man-made lake _____
Panama Canal Chronology
Directions: Starting with the oldest date, place the following items in chronological order in the Pre-lesson column. Make any
corrections in the Post-lesson column when you have learned the details about US involvement with the Panama Canal.
Pre-lesson Post-lesson
_____ US President helps with the digging _____
_____ US military show-up near Colombia _____
_____ Dr. Gorgas makes a post-war discovery _____
_____ Approximately 5% of all world trade passed through _____
_____ French begin digging _____
_____ Revolution in Panama (1903) _____
_____ Railroad opened _____
_____ Decision to use locks and as a result create a man-made lake _____
Panama Canal Chronology
Directions: Starting with the oldest date, place the following items in chronological order in the Pre-lesson column. Make any
corrections in the Post-lesson column when you have learned the details about US involvement with the Panama Canal.
Pre-lesson Post-lesson
_____ US President helps with the digging _____
_____ US military show-up near Colombia _____
_____ Dr. Gorgas makes a post-war discovery _____
_____ Approximately 5% of all world trade passed through _____
_____ French begin digging _____
_____ Revolution in Panama (1903) _____
_____ Railroad opened _____
_____ Decision to use locks and as a result create a man-made lake _____