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French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps, famous for building the Suez Canal, begins construction on the Panama Canal. The ambitious project aimed to create a waterway across Panama to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, significantly reducing travel time for ships. However, the project faced immense challenges from the start, including disease and difficult working conditions. Although Colombia owned this land, the French had treaties with them and were in good standing.

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After years of struggle, including the loss of tens of thousands of lives, primarily due to diseases such as malaria and yellow fever, and facing financial difficulties, the French canal company goes bankrupt. The failure underscores the enormous challenges of the project and leads to the sell-off of the company's assets.

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The United States, seeing strategic and economic value in the completed canal, purchases the rights and unfinished work from France. Colombia however stalls negotiations with US and U.S. stages a coup to gain Panama their independence. Panama had just been a part of the 1000 days war which was a Colombian civil war that the United States sent troops over for in order to protect their Canal Project hopes.

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1904: Construction begins on locks-based canal system

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1904: Construction begins on locks-based canal system

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Clip: 2:20-4:15. Under the guidance of engineer John F. Stevens and later Lt. Col. George W. Goethals, the U.S. overcomes the logistical, health, and engineering challenges. They introduce major innovations, including the construction of the Gatun Dam and the locks-based canal system.

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Demolition, disease, and death: Building the Panama Canal - Alex Gendler

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The Panama Canal officially opens on August 15, marking the completion of a monumental 10-year U.S. effort to build what was then the largest and most difficult engineering project in the world. The canal drastically reduces the journey time for ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, revolutionizing global maritime trade.

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Signed by U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Panama's General Omar Torrijos, the Torrijos-Carter Treaties agree to transfer control of the canal from the United States to Panama by the end of the century. The treaties mark a significant step towards Panamanian sovereignty over the canal, which had been a point of contention for decades.

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On December 31, the Panama Canal is officially transferred to the Republic of Panama, per the terms of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. The handover represents a major milestone in Panama's history, granting full control of the canal to the Panamanian people. The transfer is seen as a triumph of national sovereignty and a new era for Panama's role in global maritime traffic.