How did the United States get the right to build the Panama Canal? The United States supported a revolution that led to the independence of Panama in 1903. The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty allowed the U.S. to build the Panama Canal and provide control of five-miles wide on either side of the canal. The French had tried to build the canal before, but it was only successfully built in 1904-1914. Once the canal was built, the US held a swath of land running approximately 50 miles across the isthmus of Panama. Since Panama was split into 2 parts, it caused a lot of tension in the 20th century. We helped Panama get away from Columbia and get it's independence so they signed the treaty.
Sources: "American Experience." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2013. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/tr-panama/>;.
"Panama Canal Expansion." International Trade and Shipping News. Journal of Commerce, n.d. Web. 07 Oct. 2013. <http://www.joc.com/special-topics/panama-canal-expansion?gclid=CMSy0d_4hLoCFWNgMgodbw4AUg>;.
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