Question

Which of the following best explains the reasons for building a canal across the Isthmus of Panama?



A.


to help make Panama rich by uniting the eastern part with the western part of the country


B.


to shorten sailing time between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans


C.


to help extend French colonial power in the Americas


D.


to make Panama independent of its former ruler, Colombia

Answer 1

Although the French had attempted construction of a canal in the 1880s, the Panama Canal was successfully built from 1904 to 1914. Once the canal was complete the U.S. held a swath of land running the approximately 50 miles across the isthmus of Panama. The Panama canal was built to shorten the time moving a ship from the Atlantic to the Pacific and vise versa. It also has the advantage of making the trip around the southern tip of South America unnecessary, reducing the danger from bad weather near the Antarctic.

Answer 2

For future reference the answer is B :)