Question

The map shows sea travel from coast to coast in the 1800s. Based on the map, which best explains why the United States wanted to build a canal across Central America?

1) The US intended to annex additional foreign territories in the area.
2) The US wanted a more efficient way to move troops into Central America.
3) The US sought a direct route to get supplies to South America's mainland.
4) The US needed an easier and faster way to get goods from coast to coast.

Answer 1

The U.S. sought to build a canal across Central America to provide a strategic military advantage and improve trade efficiency by enabling quicker passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, an effort that culminated in the construction of the Panama Canal.

Step-by-step explanation:

The United States wanted to build a canal across Central America primarily due to the strategic military and economic benefits it would provide, offering a quicker and more efficient route for the movement of naval forces and commercial shipping between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The motivation for such a project escalated during the Spanish-American War, where the lengthy voyage of the U.S.S. Oregon around South America highlighted the need for a shorter passage to enhance American security and the projection of naval power.

The importance of trade routes and the experience of the California Gold Rush further increased interest in the construction of a canal. After President Roosevelt came into power, inspired by Alfred Thayer Mahan's naval strategies, the United States took decisive actions, including the support of Panama's independence from Colombia, to facilitate the construction and operation of the Panama Canal.