Final answer:
The Panama Canal was necessary for military and economic reasons, benefiting military forces and businesses involved in global trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Panama Canal was necessary for several reasons:
- Military strategic importance: The canal provided a shortcut for the U.S. Navy to move ships between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, improving military mobility and strategic positioning.
- Economic efficiency: The canal significantly reduced travel time and costs for international trade, allowing ships to bypass the longer route around South America. This benefited global trade and connected markets more efficiently.
The major groups that benefited from the canal were military forces that gained strategic advantages, and businesses involved in global trade who could move goods more efficiently.