Why Did the US Seek to Construct a Canal Through Panama?
Which of the following was NOT one of the reasons the US sought to construct a canal through Panama, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans?
a. construction of the canal was serve as a great economic benefit for the newly independent Panamanian people
b. construction of the canal would allow for much cheaper and quicker global cargo shipping
c. construction of the canal would allow for the US Navy to travel from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean quicker
Final answer:
The U.S. constructed the Panama Canal primarily for its own economic and military benefits rather than as a means of economically benefiting the newly independent Panamanian people. Option A is correct.
Explanation:
The United States had various reasons for constructing the Panama Canal, which connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Some of the main reasons included enhancing global cargo shipping and allowing the US Navy quicker access from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. However, the assertion that the canal would specifically serve as a great economic benefit for the newly independent Panamanian people cannot be considered a primary reason for the United States.
The construction of the canal was primarily driven by US economic and military interests, specifically, global trade and Navy logistics. The benefits to Panama itself, while certainly present, were considered secondary.
The Panama Canal was a major international project, attracting global attention. But the primary incentives were driven by the strategic interests of the United States, including military mobility and global shipping efficiency, not necessarily providing economic uplift specifically to the newly independent nation of Panama.