Panama

Columbia's Role

• Columbia controlled Panama
• The USA freed Panama and by saying thank you, Panama allowed the canal to be built

Panama Canal

• The USA paid Panama $10 million and an annual payment of $250 thousand
• The USA used to own it until the 1970's, now Panama owns it thanks to Jimmy Carter

Why

• When ships went from California to New York they had to go all the way around South America
• The Panama Canal offered a short cut