Panama Canal Quiz

Why did the United States want to build a canal through Central America?

• To connect railroads between North and South America

• To shorten the travel distance between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

• To help Panama gain independence from Colombia

What was the Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty?

• An agreement that gave the U.S. control of the Panama Canal Zone

• A peace treaty between Panama and Colombia

• A plan to stop diseases like malaria

What was one major challenge workers faced during canal construction?

• Cold weather and snowstorms

• Diseases such as malaria and yellow fever

• Shortage of building materials

Who discovered that mosquitoes spread malaria?

• Theodore Roosevelt

• William Gorgas

• Ferdinand de Lesseps

What was the main purpose of the canal locks?

• To prevent flooding in nearby cities

• To raise and lower ships to different water levels

• To store extra water for the rainy season

What did American doctors do to reduce malaria?

• Drained swamps and gave workers mosquito netting

• Built hospitals underground

• Used seawater to kill germs

How did the U.S. gain control of the land to build the canal?

• By supporting Panama’s revolt against Colombia

• By buying the land directly from Colombia

• By invading Panama with troops

When was the Panama Canal completed?

• 1903

• 1914

• 1921

Which group made up most of the canal workers?

• Laborers from the West Indies

• American soldiers

• French engineers

What was one major effect of the Panama Canal?

• It made trade between the U.S. and Europe slower

• It reduced travel time between U.S. coasts by thousands of miles

• It caused Panama to lose money from trade