The construction of the Panama Canal marked a transformative period in engineering and international trade. After more than two decades of unsuccessful attempts by the French to build the canal, which ended in failure due to disease, mismanagement, and engineering challenges, the United States stepped in. President Theodore Roosevelt was a strong proponent of the canal, viewing it as essential for military and economic interests. The U.S. negotiated with Panama, which had recently gained independence from Colombia, to secure the rights to construct and control the canal zone.

Beginning on May 4, 1904, the project involved moving vast amounts of earth and constructing locks that could accommodate massive ships. Over 40,000 workers, many from the Caribbean, were involved in the labor-intensive work, facing numerous hardships, including tropical diseases like malaria and yellow fever. Advances in medical knowledge and the implementation of health measures significantly reduced the impact of these diseases, leading to a safer working environment.

The Panama Canal was finally completed in 1914, revolutionizing maritime travel by drastically reducing the time it took for ships to travel between the east and west coasts of the Americas. The canal effectively connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, exemplifying engineering prowess and shifting global trade patterns. It also solidified the United States' influence in the region and laid the groundwork for future international negotiations over the canal's operation and governance.