panama canal is located at the isthmus of panama on the map.
where is panama canal located on the map?
the isthmus of panama
secretary of state hay and french diplomat philippe-jean bunau-varilla, who represented the panamanian government, quickly negotiated the hay–bunau-varilla treaty. signed on november 18, 1903, it established the panama canal zone—over which the united states would exercise sovereignty—and insured the construction of an atlantic to pacific ship canal across the isthmus of panama. panama sold the canal zone (consisting of the panama canal and an area generally extending on each side of the centerline) to the united states for $10 million and a steadily increasing yearly sum. in february 1904, roosevelt won senate ratification of the treaty in a 66-to-14 vote. the isthmian canal commission, supervised by secretary of war taft, was established to govern the zone and oversee the construction of the canal. roosevelt appointed george whitefield davis as the first governor of the panama canal zone and john findley wallace as the chief engineer of the canal project. when wallace resigned in 1905, roosevelt appointed john frank stevens, who built a railroad in the canal zone and initiated the construction of a lock canal. stevens was replaced in 1907 by george washington goethals, who saw construction through to its completion. roosevelt traveled to panama in november 1906 to inspect progress on the canal, becoming the first sitting president to travel outside of the united states.
history of u.s. foreign policy, 1897–1913
by order of president theodore roosevelt under the panama canal acts of 1902 and 1904 the secretary of war was made supervisor of canal construction and the second isthmian canal commission made the governing body for the canal zone. under the panama canal act of may 24, 1912 president woodrow wilson issued executive order 1885, january 27, 1914, effective april 1, 1914 abolishing the previous governance placing it under the direction of the secretary of war with the entity designated as the panama canal. the governor of the panama canal was charged with "completion, maintenance, operation, government and sanitation of the panama canal and its adjuncts and the government of the canal zone" in the executive order. a number of departments were specified in the order with others to be established as needed by the governor of the panama canal with approval of the president and under the supervision of the secretary of war. defense of the canal was the responsibility of the secretary of war who retained control of troops with provisions for presidential appointment of an army officer in wartime who would have "exclusive authority over the operation of the panama canal and the government of the canal zone." the executive order noted in closing "that the supervision of the operations of the panama canal under the permanent organization should be under the secretary of war" thus establishing the essentially military arrangement and atmosphere for the canal and canal zone.
panama canal zone