What was the significance of building the Panama Canal to America? More than 20,000 workers died from malaria and yellow fever while building it. It connected the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, giving America more control of the Western Hemisphere. It allowed America to pinpoint the cause of yellow fever. It helped America with the Open Door Policy.
It connected the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, giving America more control of the Western Hemisphere.
Because, think about it. Why bother going all the way under Europe to get to the Pacific or going all the way under Latin America...when you can just cut through Panama and save tons of time?
