Which event sparked US interest in creating the Panama Canal?(1 point)
1. The California Gold Rush
2. The Great Depression
3. World War 1
4. President Lincoln's assassination
1. The California Gold Rush
The event that sparked US interest in creating the Panama Canal was the California Gold Rush. (1 point)
The event that sparked US interest in creating the Panama Canal was option 1, the California Gold Rush. To understand why this event triggered the interest, let's take a closer look:
To uncover the answer by yourself, you can eliminate options 2, 3, and 4 because none of these events occurred before the construction of the Panama Canal.
Now, to confirm why it is option 1, we need to understand the connection between the California Gold Rush and the Panama Canal. The California Gold Rush, which began in 1848, attracted hundreds of thousands of people from around the world to California in search of gold. As a result, there was a significant increase in trade and travel to the West Coast of the United States.
During this time, it became evident that a shorter and more efficient route for travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans would greatly benefit the US. The idea of constructing a canal across the Isthmus of Panama (then part of Colombia) gained traction as it would create a direct shipping route, cutting travel time and costs significantly.
Hence, option 1, the California Gold Rush, ignited US interest in creating the Panama Canal as it highlighted the need for a faster and more convenient route to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.