PANAMA CANAL
This famous depiction demonstrates how President Theodore Roosevelt led the movement toward the creation of a canal within Panama. The region of Panama, which was a province of Colombia, had previously been leased to the French, who attempted to build a canal but were stopped by poor management, health issues, and a lack of proper leadership. However, the original engineer that created the project, Ferdinand de Lesseps, sought to have the United States assist his dream of the canal into a reality. He and his supporters convinced President Roosevelt that if America ignored the new treaty offerings of the Colombians that a canal could be built by organizing a revolution of Panamanians within the region itself. When the revolution became successful due to Roosevelt's sending the navy to the location to block the Colombians from successfully sending their navy to squash the uprising, an independent Panama was formed where an agreement was made with America to allow them to control the canal zone that resulted in the pathway through the isthmus being completed in 1914, which coincided with the launching of the First World War. This success was due in large part because a doctor, Walter Reed, found a cure for yellow fever and made working possible.