Final answer:
The U.S. faced geographical and health challenges while building the Panama Canal, including hilly terrain, diseases like malaria, and labor-intensive excavation. Political issues arose with Colombia, leading to financial compensations. The construction marked a remarkable engineering and organizational feat.
Step-by-step explanation:
Challenges in Building the Panama Canal
The United States faced considerable challenges when constructing the Panama Canal. One major obstacle was the geographical conditions, including hilly topography and the need to excavate over 170 million cubic yards of earth, leading to a decision to build a lock-system canal rather than a sea-level one. Additionally, tropical diseases such as malaria and yellow fever posed significant health risks to workers. Introducing fumigation systems and mosquito nets critically reduced the death rate.
An engineering challenge was the need to prevent and manage recurring landslides, particularly in the Culebra Cut. The French project, a previous attempt at constructing the canal, had failed, ultimately resulting in economic ruin due to similar issues plus poor health conditions, which the U.S. learned to overcome. The American phase was marked by immense organization and advancements in medical science, spearheaded by figures such as Colonel George Washington Goethals and Dr. William Gorgas.
Political challenges included handling diplomatic relations with Colombia, which protested U.S. intervention and the subsequent Panamanian independence. The situation resulted in financial compensation and decreased U.S. prestige in Latin America. Nevertheless, the canal was completed and significantly altered global trade and military strategies.