Why did the US give up the Panama Canal? (Short Animated Documentary)

In 1977 Jimmy Carter agreed to the United States returning the Panama Canal back to Panama by 2000. He agreed to the transfer in return for nothing. So why did he do this? Why did the USA return the Panama canal for free?
/ histmattersyt
Patreon: www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164
A special thanks to all of these Patrons below, without whom the show wouldn't be possible:
Dave Brondsema
Michael Kram
Hasmuffin
Franco La Bruna
Ethan
Seth
Don Bonnigan
abdelrahman Sayeh
Azlow the Lion
Ian Whitcomb
Spencer W
John
Matthew Literovich
JakeBak0905
Ryan Schindeler
Southside Mitch
Ray Charles Barkley
Jane Sumpter
Philip Yip
Andy McGehee
Shauna K
Balancewheel
Sean D.
imperialgerman
Shion
Piotr Wojnowski
sharpie660
Samantha O'Leary
DocOzz13 .
Tom Ebert
Aaron Conaway
Ariel David Moya Sequeira
Joooooshhhhhh
Joshua Rackstraw
Shakira Graham
Phoenix Fats
Joshua Schneider
Christopher Godfrey
Andrea Dekrout
S. Marisol Asselta
Steven Gibson
Mario Peshev
Travis Mount
Windischgraetz
Erik Hare
ConspiracyPizza
Tony Belmonte
Porkmeister
Baste
Barry
Jack Nelson
Phillip Gathright
Vance Christiaanse
Josh J
Alex Teplyakov
Arthur Hosey Jr.
Ron Johnson
Nicholas Menghini
Dr. Schtnizel
Emily Sissell
Jamie van Brewen
Jack Wicks
Andreas Mosand
Paul Munro
BeninPrince51
Andrew F
Dana Spurgeon
Roman Kynčl
Thomas McGraw
Sethars
Zhao Liu
MGS2600
Contdoko12
Shawn Morse
Colonel Oneill
Allen Rines
zockotron
Zach Rust
D. Mahlik
Michael Galloway
Nick Macarius
Wesley Helgeson
Matthew Toles
Chris Winther
Liam Gilleece
Angel Aguiñaga
Tim Lane
Katie Flinn
Bradley Backoff
Andrew Patane
John Garcia
Tactical_Jackal
mgnesium.poetry
Historian22B.C
Chase Labiste
Carl Blanton
Sahni
HelloAgain
Tiffany Twisted
Bernice
Ivaer
Mickey Landen
Snowdon
Vilena5
Clayton Schuman
Brian George
Tim Stone
Matthew Maguire
Michael Myers
Matt Reed
Victor Gomez
Keith A. Layton
Harley Raptopoulos
Leena Al-Souki
Dullis
William Adderholdt
Anthony McCann
Chris Weisel
Wilhelm Screamer
KNSTRKTVST
Matthew O'Connor
Imperial Pony
Ciege Engine
blaZzinG_FurY
Theodosius the Elder
Bodo Nuber
JAY ALAN EDELMAN
Robert Woodward
Geoffrey Sparrow
Toshnika
ARandomPaperClip
TH
Magdalena Reinberg-Leibel
Juan Castillo
Bartosz Zasada
Justin Short
Aaron Larrow
Curt Helmerich
Steve Bonds
george tyler
Joseph Reinsch
Ahmed Roshdi
C. C. C.
Steven Mastronardo
Alex Slepak
Andrew Niedbala
BattleGoat Studios
Fabrizio Zagonel
Greyceful
Perry Gagne
Random Insanity
Jason Gould
Łukasz Burchard
Raymond He
ThePalestRose
Thomas McGill
Joseph Hutchins
David van Reyk
No way
Dexter_McAaron
Bren Ehnebuske
bas mensink
Tim Stumbaugh
Ken Warner
Ryan Marinelli
Liquid Chief
B Dryad
Abhijeeth
Warren Rudkin
Oliver Jenner
Christian Vasquez Leon
Ned Burke
Tim Sweeney
Bernardo Cavalcanti
Stefan Møller
Daniel Orrego Melis
Ali Sadighian
Jonny Minogue
Hexapuma
Blue Cardinal
Joel Cromwell
Ian Smith
Vegard Tønnessen
Adam Rabung
Yared Cristiano
luvrhino
Ryan Lowe
Nathan Ngumi
Clay Carroll
Yosef Waysman
James
Alen
Burt Clothier
Daniel D.
Colm Byrne
Romney Manassa
Andrey Listochkin
Sterling Archer
Gordon Wilson
Mars Project
kevinh
Tino
Melissa Prober
Peter Marino
Benjamin Bowring
Emily D
Rob Rollins
anon
Joker 54
Joseph Kerckhoff
Robin!
Alexander Liu
Ryan Krug
Zach Weakland
Richard Wolfe
James R DeVries
Mark Ploegstra
Alex G.
Brian Giordano
Ryan Haber
David Spellmeyer
Yuichiro Kakutani
SketerK
Kevin Phoenix
Aiden Chappell
Justin Pratt
SirAlpaka
nullptr
Robert Brockway
Juan Benet
Michael Dierker
Wolf
Manny F
Eric Askins
Azul Bravestrong
LambOfLeg
Ball State
Jeffrey Schneider
Pat Stahl
Matthew Bakke
Michael Wagner
Thomas Wang
Mik Scheper
William Clark
Zachary Oertel
Anthony Uk
Phil and Lisa Toland
John Orr
Charles Doolittle
John Gross-Whitaker
mohd
Tristan Kreller
Emily Glover-Wilson
Mirza Ahmed
Franklin Sousa
Joshua A Bishop
George Caponera
Dustin Koellhoffer
Mr. Awesome
Roko Lisica
Peter A Titov
Danny Anstess
Casey Frye
Shoenin
Nathan Snyder
Kinfe85
Miky Hidalgo Morriss
I'm Not In The Description
Rita Cragwall
Seth Reeves
Dr. Sarno
Dr. Howard Dr. Fine Dr. Howard
Peter Konieczny
FRANK A COBBINA
Ellen Teapot
Dan Reiher
Now Seibert
Tyler Jenkins
Mark Littlehale
Douglas MacLean
אורי פרקש
Will Sullivan
Heytun
Gregory Priebe
Sophie Winter
Igor Stavchanskiy
Colm Boyle
Jesse Plung
Chasen Le Hara
Lech Duraj
Isabel Harrison
Riley davidson
Andrew Sever
Sean Long
Serius_Loyola
LAMAR DANIEL-KELLY
Chach
JT96
Adrian Marine
Tailsdoll
Käs
Donald Weaver
Lindorien
Paul McGee
Abdallah Al-Ammari
[e-mail]
João Santos
Daniel O'Reilly
Stefano Deiana
Deadlock
Markus Lindström
Gezza The Random Reviewer
Michael Corson
Erik Carlsson
Olaf
Kasi
M Scho
Schwarzer Hai
Tarsirrus
Laura Jeal
Ben L
Rhys Little
James
Graham Law
Farquhar Ramshackle
Jackarice26
Harrison Tatem-Wyatt
Twinny Hill
Gina Service
Roberticus1992
zemnmez
DarkLycan
KingKyumber
James Ling
Phil Johnston
Tom Pollard
George Gremo

[@TheBluetwo26]

Also keep in mind that part of the treaty stipulates that the US is allowed to take complete control over it, the canal zone and remiliterize the canal at any point if there is a threat to US or Panamanian sovereignty. So although it was given 'for free' with a lot of political benefits, it has a return policy.

[@chmeee9562]

So a “backsies” clause?

[@llawliet666]

That's true but clauses like that don't often get actually used, so unless there's some big communist revolution in Panama I doubt it ever will be; and the longer time gets from when America had the canal, the worse the political consequences get. Although I wrote this with an air of confidence, please no one take this as fact, these are just my two cents. It may seem I'm being narcissistic in saying this but I only do because in the past I've had this problem.

[@berengerchristy6256]

very nice

[@TheBluetwo26]

Yeah I don't see the US using it anytime soon and the situation would have to be very extreme. Depending on the situation and the global political environment, political pushback would vary in my opinion.

[@brandonlyon730]

It helps its 2 neighbors, Costa rica no longer has any sort of military so they’re no threat and Columbia could barely hold itself together let alone try to ever take back Panama, not to mention considering what’s going on with the Russian economy after there invasion of Ukraine, they won’t risk the sanctions or immediate U.S intervention that will not make it worth it. So Panama is more or less safe.

[@Quetzal-ob8vn]

One thing I would like to know about is why the Central American federation failed because it seemed like something that would work

[@kristof6472]

Definitely doesnt sound like it would work

[@idkwut4523]

Instability and nationalism Iirc

[@Micro-Lander]

@@idkwut4523 the worst things ever for unity smh

[@kristof6472]

@@happyelephant5384 the eu is already riddled with dozens of problems

[@christianweibrecht6555]

@@idkwut4523 ikd how nationalism would work against that considering how all of its members where dominated by Spaniards

[@Younima4]

Multiple ideas for videos: Why did Denmark lose Iceland? Why did Brazil lose its Monarchy? Why did Ethiopia give up Eritrea? Why did Thailand join the Axis? Why did the South stay with the Union (Post War)? Why was Iran so weak (Pre-Pahlavi)? Why didn't the Chinese Empire Develop?

[@bradley8575]

Also why did Finland join the Axis powers too even though they weren’t officially in the axis but were working with them

[@gertmoelders8809]

I wouldn’t call Iran particularly weak tho lol.

[@viditsinha9707]

@@gertmoelders8809 in the past it was the question is why _was_ Iran weak

[@Sol_Invictus_]

@@bradley8575 winter war

[@Younima4]

@@bradley8575 Finland was fighting a war with the Soviet Union before operation Barbarosa even began. Hitler and Stalin signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact so the invasion of Poland can be dealt with quickly. Seeing how little the Allies did to defend Poland against the Russians, Stalin decided to invade the Baltic states and Finland while the Allies were preoccupied with Germany. The Axis saw this as a way to distract Stalin so they can use the element of surprise and allow there to be a swift and easy end to the Russian State.

[@PakBallandSami]

From the first Senate resolution in 1835 favouring Nicaragua until the dramatic change of location for the canal in the Spooner Act, the American public and government had consistently and overwhelmingly supported a canal through Nicaragua. That the canal was built in Panama is primarily attributable not to the intrinsic merits of the Panama route but to the ingenuity and zeal of two remarkable men who worked separately toward a common goal: the French engineer Phillipe-Jean Bunau-Varilla and the American lawyer William Nelson Cromwell.

[@LordJaric]

to add a little to this one politician used a postage stamp from Nicaragua that showed an active volcano to get the location changed to Panama.

[@williamthebonquerer9181]

Nicaragua canal would of been an environmental disaster

[@wbcx4491]

@@LordJaric That active volcano must have been from the Central American Republic's coat of arms.

[@maxwellwellmax878]

@@williamthebonquerer9181 Sadly the current govt in Managua might try it again if China is willing to do it.

[@maxwellwellmax878]

@@wbcx4491 No, there is an Island in Lake Cocibolca with an Active Volcano but Its far away from where the Canal Could have been built.

[@peerawatkanchanakul7218]

Here are some ideas for future videos: - Why did Thailand join the Axis? - Why does the Gambia exist? - Why did Thailand never get colonized?

[@timvlaar]

Thailand joined the axis because it was invaded by Japan and realized it couldn't win and the Gambia exists because it was colonized by the British in contrast to the French colonized Senegal that surrounds it.

[@samrevlej9331]

@@timvlaar Stop taking away video topics, damn it.

[@BountyFlamor]

@@timvlaar In fact, the British had been at the Gambia river before the French came to control everything around it. And since the British refused to leave, The Gambia became a separate entity.

[@pecadodeorgullo5963]

@@BountyFlamor well, the british tried to sell the Gambia to France in return for something but this never went anywhere. The Gambia and Senegal merged into a single nation but this soon dissolved.

[@georgeprchal3924]

Because they were invaded by the Japanese.

[@jakekn7304]

The ship zooming by at 2:46 is the funniest thing I've seen today 😂

[@milindpania]

Snorted quite loudly when I saw that. Poor Mussolini, getting railed by an American battleship.

[@Mig4961]

Ya that caught me so off guard lol

[@davidvasquez08]

@@milindpania carrier

[@somebodywhoateapie7073]

Man, I totally believed the "this forced him to respect their wishes" line. I think this might be the first History Matters fake out that I've genuinely fallen for.

[@nickschulte3915]

Yeah, it’s not that straight forward, because, of course it isn’t. TR had an agreement with Columbia but Columbia kept jerking him around. So TR went and did his TR thing

[@Delgen1951]

@@nickschulte3915 Yeap he hit them with a big stick which in this case I think was Battleship and marines or maybe a cruiser and Marines.

[@zddxddyddw]

@@nickschulte3915 Colombia*

[@PodcArne]

@@nickschulte3915 Colombia*

[@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music]

what how

This video was like an early Easter Egg, as a Panamanian I never expected him to talk about this topic, it must be said that he skips some important facts, but to be a summary it is acceptable; On the other hand, I am glad to see the history and the beautiful flag of my country, finally on this channel. By the way, for those who think that everything was caused by US interference in the country, they are wrong; We had up to 17 failed attempts to separate from Colombia throughout the 19th century, their union never benefited us (the flames were always on), so the refusal to build the canal was "the drop that spilled the glass of water" and The United States took advantage of it quite well, we both came out winning. XD

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

🇵🇦🤜🤛🇺🇸

[@captaincapitalis1205]

Thank you for informing us. I had no idea they tried to separate that much from Columbia

[@elborre5483]

@@robertortiz-wilson1588 I agree.Even as a Colombian I really see no reason why panamians should be controlled by my corrupt and incompetent goverment.

[@lance8980]

Its supposed to be short and quick. Its not meant to cover every single important detail

[@llamingo696]

@@captaincapitalis1205 "Colombia" gringo "Colombia"

[@masonm600]

1:07 "This forced him to respect their wishes and OH WAIT, NO. Rebels." Liking the new interrupt phrase!

[@SensaiRyu]

Fun fact about the war for Panamanian Independence was that it was fought entirely by the USA consisted of only one shot from one cannon from one battleship and this shell killed only one guy and a goat....cant make this stuff up.

[@BuriedFlame]

_"That goat was two days before retirement!"_

[@LyricsFred]

Colombia was recovering from the Civil war and Panama was literally the poorest region of Colombia, the US just bribed the general of the Colombian army stationed in Panama and paid the salary of the soldiers and they didn't had any reason to fight 😂. Colombia even offered to move their capital to Panama City if we didn't go on with independence.

[@ErikPT]

@@LyricsFred So… you’re telling me US fought the Colombians and did it under 5e table? Then proceeded to “militarize” Colombia by training their cops and military? Side note: Brazil trained Americans in urban warfare apparently

[@JasonFightsCrime]

It sounds like it was almost as easy as taking Guam.

[@purplespeckledappleeater8738]

Gunboat diplomacy at its finest! "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me. We pillage plunder, we rifle and loot. Stand up me hearties, yo ho. We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot. Stand up me hearties, yo ho. Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me. We extort and pilfer, we filch and sack. Stand up me hearties, yo ho. Maraud and embezzle and even highjack. Stand up me hearties, yo ho. Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me. We kindle and char and in flame and ignite. Stand up me hearties, yo ho. We burn up the city, we're really a fright. Stand up me hearties, yo ho. We're rascals and scoundrels, we're villains and knaves. Stand up me hearties, yo ho. We're devils and black sheep, we're really bad eggs. Stand up me hearties, yo ho. We're beggars and blighters and ne'er do-well cads, Stand up me hearties, yo ho. Aye, but we're loved by our mommies and dads, Stand up me hearties, yo ho. Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me."

[@SpaceMonkeyBoi]

While the future of the Panama canal was uncertain, the government decided to give the ownership to James Bisonette, as his vast wealth would be enough to maintain the canal for centuries. I hope you enjoyed this video and thank you for watching, with a special thanks to my patrons: James Bisonette James Bisonette James Bisonette James Bisonette James Bisonette James Bisonette Kelly moneymaker And James Bisonette

[@dumigamez397]

Why did I imagine someone saying James Bissonette 100 times to the tune of Yakko's world after seeing this.

[@joeylawn36111]

Elon Musk tried to buy James Bisonette, but failed because he couldn't afford him....

[@konradviii5663]

I've been to Colon. That shit is scary as fuck

[@juandiego-tk8lz]

@@konradviii5663 Me as a Panamanian agree, part of my family was from Colón, and they told me that Colón used to be the most beautiful city in the "Caribe", but well, used to be.

[@foozballguy]

Don't forget my man booglywoogly

[@LuccianoBartolini]

Things the channel didn't cover: 1.- There were plans for Gran Colombia to make the Panama Canal as well, but they didn't have the money and they didn't want foreign countries to make it (for the exact reason the US did it) so it wasn't made then. 2.- Colombia didn't do nothing because it was in the middle of a Civil War (the 1000 Days War) and both sides were so desperate to win that they were even willing to sell Panama to the US in exchange of help, seeing how it went, it still didn't matter because Colombia was too busy fixing itself to do anything about Panama.

[@Axyr]

Also the US did pay some reparations, which were well received since: a). Colombia liked the US and b). Panama was too much work to even keep around because of the Darien Gap One of the very few cases where everything just sort of works out for everyone involved

[@ezefinkielman4672]

He also did bring up the riots on January 9 1964. Important turning and considered Martyrs’ Day in Panama.

[@damilercf]

@@Axyr Exactly. Hadn't they separated from us, they'd still be a jungle full of almost nothing. Worked for them, and kind of also worked for us (It would've been nice to keep them around, but as history showed, it would've cost us even more to keep them and they would have lived our 20th century conflicts first hand… so no, it's better off this way(

[@damilercf]

Adding: Keeping them around most likely meant infrastructure, and lots of it… thing we really couldn't afford up until the 80s lmao. I mean, a good chunk of our Pacific and Amazon regions are still unreachable via land nowadays, so you get the idea.

[@jtlea77]

Also didn’t include the weather on the day of the treaty...get bent

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

A railroad across Panama was built and opened in 1855, predating the canal by decades. It still operates though totally rebuilt after years of decline and closure during the 1980s and 90s.

[@ronxlii]

Took the ride on that train on My birthday in 1974.

[@jygb7092]

Ships can't use railroads.

[@centredoorplugsthornton4112]

@@jygb7092 it was built for railroad use. Today it carries a lot of shipping containers and other cargo off loaded at one end of the canal, moved by rail to the other end of the canal, and reloaded onto ships for further movement.

[@VinnyUnion]

​@@jygb7092they can of you try hard enough

[@DardanellesBy108]

I found this one funnier than usual. The line “even those dirty commies can us it” found in that letter and the speeding aircraft carrier through the canal were very good. Great video as usual!

[@counterfit5]

I've got the need. The need for *speed*

[@KutWrite]

...and such an accurate depiction of an A-4, especially for a cartoon!

[@Skorpychan]

You mean aircraft carriers DON'T go zoom like that?

[@johnxu2001]

and Jimothy Carter! :D

[@stevemc01]

*Enterprise euro beats intensify*

[@joedellinger9437]

I visited the former Canal Zone in 1983 and everywhere you heard the sounds of chainsaws. The zone had been left mostly forested; outside it was deforested. The boundaries of the former zone were obvious… it was the boundary of the forest. It appeared that the Panamanians, having gotten their land back, were eager to strip it of trees so that it matched the rest of the country… The other amazing thing was how much of the original technology from 1914 was still used in the lock controls. Because it still worked and was more reliable than more modern technology would have been! (edit - I should add we got a tour inside the Gatun lock control house because we had a relative who worked there.)

[@gothicgolem2947]

Really? Doesn’t Panama have lots of jungle tho?

[@albertobaruco3943]

@@gothicgolem2947 Only on one side of the country, and far from the Canal and the city

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

@@albertobaruco3943 The infamous Darien Gap?

[@lucario2188]

I think the reason may be because years ago there was a plan to unite all the continent throught a road but the road stopped in panama because of the Darien Gap.

[@davidkelly577]

How sad. I lived in the Canal Zone for five years in the late 60's thru early 70's. As a kid, I frequently explored the jungles around the Farfan navy base and the Navy Ammunition Dump or NAD (i.e. the marine base next to the Rodman navy base). These were pristine jungle full of wild life. Including: otter, monkey, marmoset, sloths, birds, snakes, etc. My three fondest memory's came from adventures in the jungle behind the NAD. In one case I was crossing a creek about chest deep only to notice a giant python looking at me from the opposite bank. I slowly backed out of the creek. The python could have easily killed me and my folks would have never know what happened. In a second incident, I was riding my mini-bike in the backroads of the ammunition dump. As I came over a hill, I almost ran into a jaguar. I slid my bike on its side to avoid hitting the cat and stopped about 10 feet from it. He looked at me. I looked at him... and we both decided to run in opposite directions. In the third incident a graduate student from the U.S. was studying marmosets in jungle behind the NAD. He had set-up a tree observation platform in an area of the jungle where I knew there were jaguar. I told him about the jaguar, but got a lengthy lecture as the how the "habitat wasn't suitable for jaguar". I left Panama that year. Six months later, I got a letter from the graduate student apologizing. Seems a jaguar went to sleep under his observation stand and he had to spend a nervous night in the tree stand until the jaguar went away.

[@wickiei4556]

the scene at 2:45 with the sound effect is just perfect. Top notch humour

[@davidsamudio3899]

also Panama's economic backbone is pretty south east of the Canal, Panama funcionally is a City state around the canal, there are other two Major Cities, one is Colon, wich because of hard access caused by the mountainrange and the jungle, Kinda has becamed a backwater, and David, is the Capital of the province of chiriqui, every other city has its little economy, but no one nearly as big as the Panama City, and I say funcionally a city state because around 30% of the total population lives in the Capital of the country

[@flokiseo6583]

As a person actually living in a city-state, I find your view rather interestinf and refreshing.

[@neph9205]

By that logic Mongolia would be a city state... and this doesnt sound right for me

[@trollinape2697]

30%? Not even half. I wouldnt call Panama a city state lmao

[@quisqueyanguy120]

@@neph9205 It technically is, 1 big city and the rest of the country is desert.

[@juandiego-tk8lz]

As a panamanian (i live in David), I really and sadly agree, Panama is such a centralized country

[@firefox3249]

I've noticed that lately the subjects you choose to talk about are becoming increasingly interesting. Well done!

[@terrab1ter4]

Here's a fun video idea: top 10 messiest border regions and how it ended up that way. There's one between Belgium and the Netherlands, a bunch of enclaves within the Netherlands belonging to Belgium. Also, stellar job as always

[@michaelj6392]

I would be interested in a video on the China-Vietnam conflict shortly after the US left Vietnam and how it ties in to Cambodia/Khmer Rouge.

[@Rato_Arabe]

Next video ideas: Why didn't the Baltic States get restored after WW2? Why did Denmark lose Iceland?

[@cyrusthegreat7030]

1 Because Soviet Union wanted the old Russian empires territories 2 No idea good question

[@tshunsjc7719]

The first is pretty easy lol, the soviets ate them and the soviets didn't lose.

[@Younima4]

1st one is obvious. 2nd one is an interesting question

[@pecadodeorgullo5963]

@@cyrusthegreat7030 the reason Denmark lost Iceland was due to the events of ww2 in which Germany occupied mainland Denmark and the UK occupied the Faroe Islands and Iceland. The british forces left in 1941 after the government in Iceland invited the then neutral usa to station troops there so the UK could send the troops stationed there to help elsewhere. Iceland was only in a union with Denmark and had similar status to the likes of the dominions Canada or South Africa. The union expired in 1943 after 25 years and in 1944 a referendum was held with 97% of the population opting for full independence.

[@tshunsjc7719]

@John Williamson communism

[@dawesome_sauce]

Your little write-up for the Treaty was hysterical. I especially loved the Jimothy Carter bit.

[@Hand-in-Shot_Productions]

I just watched this again, and I find it quite entertaining and informative! Thanks for the video! Also, nice racecar-warship noises at 2:44!

[@firstnamelastname1011]

I've taken classes with the guy that negotiated the handover for the USA. Really interesting guy, would casually bring up his friend Jimmy every once in a while.

[@rickycoker5830]

Jimmy Carter was the most decent, most honorable president of the 20th century. Alas he was also he was also among the worst. With his great character came a paralysis by analysis. A great leader must be a bit of a devious asshole to be successful.

[@LyricsFred]

Kissinger?

[@cashewnuttel9054]

Does he bring up his Panamanian friends as well or just Jimmy?

[@laurabac433]

Funnily enough, I also know a guy who casually brings up his friend Jimmy; my family goes camping sometimes with a guy who is the other peanut farmer in Plains, Georgia.

[@ttun100]

Fun fact about the Panama Canal, "the general direction of the canal passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific is from northwest to southeast, because of the shape of the isthmus at the point the canal occupies." ---Wikipedia

[@hanswoast7]

I think it is quite peculiar that it is more like north-south than anything else. My intuitive guess would have been east-west.

[@stevenglowacki8576]

@@hanswoast7 Notice that its Atlantic outlet is west of the Pacific outlet. That's a good "gotcha" fact.

[@ttun100]

@@hanswoast7 I also guessed it would be East to West entering from the Atlantic side but checking it out on Wikipedia and a close inspection on the map shows otherwise.

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

Also note that the sea levels are different on the two sides. What, you thought there was only one “sea level” ... ?

[@chiefusb465]

I'm glad you quoted such a reliable source haha

[@stevenglowacki8576]

I'm surprised when you mentioned the Suez that you didn't mention one major difference between the Panama and Suez canals - the Suez is at ocean level the entire way, while the Panama canal has locks and thus is for much of the route above ocean level.

[@Pierce1996h]

Apparently the Japanese had a plan during ww2 that was almost enacted to blow up one side of the canal and it might have had the water from the higher side damage a lot when it breaks through the locks. But I have no idea if it's true or if it work work like that.

[@nikolatasev4948]

The original idea was to cut through the continent and avoid using locks. Then again, digging through mountains turned out to be a bit harder than digging through sand.

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

How do they fill those above-sea-level parts?

[@silencemeviolateme6076]

@@lawrencedoliveiro9104 The ship enters a lock, the lock gets filled with water to raise the ship then the one side of the lock opens to let the ship pass through.

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

@@silencemeviolateme6076 Where does the water come from?

[@50shekels]

So many of these questions are things about history I kinda wanted to know and either didnt bother to look up or couldnt find a good answer for. Thanks for all these great answers!

[@killert_7759]

Suggestion: did the Aztec and Inca empires know of each other’s existence?

[@leonardoleo5740]

This is simple: they knew about each other just as much Rome knew about the huns before they showed up.

[@cc0767]

@@leonardoleo5740 Atleast Rome and China had an interesting relationship because both were aware of each other but never officially met, Rome thought "meh more barbarians" while China thought Rome was the other Empire keeping the world in balance.. or something.

[@22espec]

Highly unlikely, they both knew that there were a lot more tribes outside their territories and they were both expansionists, but both also have problems to expand, for the Incas it was the geography and for the Aztecs.well their neighbors hated them because all the ritual sacrifices, Cortez just was the last nail.

[@purplespeckledappleeater8738]

Depends how common trade was. People talk. The Aztecs and all the local city-states knew about the Spanish as soon as they found the first local settlement but it took time for the Spanish to find Tenochtitlan. Montezuma was inquiring about the Spanish from anyone who thought they had intel. The local traders moved over the Indigenous trade routes very quickly in pre-Columbian times. The big barrier was the language barrier.

[@pottertheavenger1363]

they did. simply track the travel of corn to south america

[@MomMom4Cubs]

I only knew about this because my father in law served in the USAF in 1977 (my brother in law was born on base in Panama). He rants about how Democrats fuck everything up. It's not because he's proudly Republican, but because cocaine is SO much cheaper there.

[@neumo5005]

Absolute chad

[@jameskresl]

Has his priorities straight

[@MomMom4Cubs]

@@jameskresl Totes!

[@josuemunoz5455]

Jesus... i mean... yeah? But Jesus

[@poke-champ4256]

"you hate the democrats because you're a republican I hate the dems cause they made cocaine less cheaply available We are not the same"

[@robertmoore6149]

Also the most important warships (carriers) in the US Navy could no longer fit in the canal. So militarily, the canal lost a lot of value

[@stalkinghorse883]

WW2 Essex class carriers were designed to fit through the canal.

[@robertmoore6149]

@@stalkinghorse883 No, carriers couldn't fit anymore. Begining with the Forestal class in 1955 no more new carriers could fit. USS Nimitz (the first of 10) was comissioned 2 years before the signing of the treaty that handed over the canal. (She was 219ft longer than USS Essex.) By that point there were only about 3 Essex class carriers left in service and all of those had been modified extensively. So even they couldn't fit anymore.

[@robertmoore6149]

@@stalkinghorse883 But i agree with you that @Robert Dillon statement was incorrect. Essex class carriers could fit through the canal. And yes that was by design. There was design requirement at the time that no Navy ship be longer/wider than Panama Canal can handle and no taller than what could squeeze under the Brooklyn Bridge at low tide. (To get to the Brooklyn Naval Yard)

[@f.wallace8969]

I wonder if that's another reason we keep the amphibious assault ships around still. Besides their main obvious role. They could have a secondary role as light carrier. They can still traverse the canal.

[@robertmoore6149]

@@f.wallace8969 I think its because Marines want a ride where they outnumber the squids.

[@oldegrunt5735]

Not sure why this video would claim the Canal was a cash cow of any sort for the US. The continual costs of infrastructure upkeep, actual operations costs, military garrison, subsidies for the civilian residents/Canal Company employees etc were pretty costly. Though the Canal Company largely stayed in the black, it was not exactly accomplished under normal business procedures given how many of what would normally be company functions was shifted to the US government. Of course the savings in fuel/time for the Fleet offset overall government costs probably to quite a degree.

[@MAG_nan]

If Kelly Moneymaker continues with that pace, James Bissonette will finally have a worthy opponent. 🙌

[@BlackTomorrowMusic]

And if History Matters ever decides to do a face reveal, I don't want to see the narrator. I want to see James Bissonette and/or Kelly Moneymaker.

[@Nyx773]

🥱

[@kellymoneymaker3922]

😏

[@MAG_nan]

@@kellymoneymaker3922 all hail the legend the almighty Kelly Moneymaker. Just a quick appreciation to you for making History Matters’ video possible. I’m always looking forward to each vid just to hear you and James Bisonette at the end.

[@kellymoneymaker3922]

@@MAG_nan Hello, friend! Happy to contribute in some small way. 🤗

[@clientdebouquiniste]

I love your humor. Its always unexpected

[@reshuram4353]

Just like the spanish inquisition

[@cernejr]

Hard to beat good English humor.

[@Lukas-hy6ex]

@@reshuram4353 Unfortunately, HistoryMatters already busted that myth - the Spanish Inquisition always gave notice a month beforehand, hence they weren't really unexpected

[@reshuram4353]

@@Lukas-hy6ex It's a bloody joke and a Monty Python reference

[@Lukas-hy6ex]

@@reshuram4353 I know. Just thought it was funny because in reference to this HM explicity mentioned in his video on it that they actually weren't unexpected... no need to get upset about it

[@Eustathe]

That the Panama Canal could be dug before the flu vaccine or powered flight were invented is, in fact, largely due to the formidable means of James Bissonnette, an early proponent and backer of the Canal.

[@ZAMBGOPOLIS]

This was my quiz material today! Thanks for helping me study!

[@femaleswolf]

Immediately tuned in as soon as I seen this pop on my feed. Thanks for my history

[@marcgatto9675]

Politics aside, it was and is an engineering marvel.I live in Panama and my hat is off to ALL the people that constructed the canal and those who keep it running today. I can see the marine traffic coming and going on the Pacific side where I live. It is endlessly fascinating to me. Come visit us! 🇵🇦

[@LazySleestack]

I was 10 when Carter signed this treaty and I remember a lot of people being seriously upset about us just "giving" away something that was "ours". But one serious element you did not even mention was that the canal zone was thousands of miles from mainland US and surrounded by another country. Its operation was pretty fragile and if we refused to return the canal and that relationship soured all bets would be off. The government of Panama at the time was selling the idea of canal ownership as a panacea for all of the countries ills. If they had ownership it would make everyone in the country rich and all their problems would be gone. Add to all that the fact that by the mid 70s the size of ships had grown to the point that most of the larger war and commercial vessels could not use it unless a VERY expensive upgrade was performed, making its operation not nearly as profitable as it once was. If we handed over the canal then that upgrading would have to be done by the gov. of Panama and would likely be done by US firms. Because, you know, we handed over the canal.

[@USN1985dos]

Implying that the US couldn't defend the Canal Zone against a country smaller than most of our states, and which happened to be in our figurative backyard. In the end, it was really just a good will gesture on the geopolitical scene, and a way for US firms to get richer. It didn't really benefit the US as a nation in anyway to give it up, but was typical of the Carter administration. Also, US warships have always been designed to fit through the canal, so suggesting that modern ships couldn't transit it without it being modernized is false. The US Navy, and most global shipping companies, aren't going to invest in ships that can't take advantage of one of the most important waterways in the world.

[@LazySleestack]

@@USN1985dos I think you left off your point from that first sentence, but I have to call BS on your knowledge of Geography is you think a country several thousand miles from the NEAREST part of the US is in our "back yard" anyway, so I'll just let it go. And I know for a fact that all of our aircraft carriers built since 1945 were unable to fit through it, so not ALL warships were designed to fit it. And if you think the US would be able to keep a such a vital and complex system safe from sabotage when a riled up populace wanted to make trouble you obviously have not been watching coverage of Iraq and Afghanistan. ANY country could make your life hell without brutal repressive killings to put down such uprising. And the Russians are now learning that even that doesn't always work if the country is motivated enough and supported by outside forces. The fact is, we still have access to the canal, and we did not have to kill any Panamanians to get that. Which we probably would have if we tried to keep it given the political situation back in the 70s. But as you say, they are a small country, so we could have killed a bunch of them and kept it. But now, if the whole war and killing thing ever became necessary we could probably take it back by force. But this way we get access and didn't have to kill anyone. Typical Carter, achieving our goals without killing people. Wuss.

[@Channel-23s]

@@LazySleestack difference is our navy could deal with any threat attacking the canal (Aircraft carriers and Warships) and lastly Afghanistan is farther away and bigger then the canal and a more complicated situation too let’s not try to compare two different things or countries

[@Eddie-ud4bb]

​@@LazySleestackexcellent perspective.

[@laiva2175]

Another amazing video as always

[@GarseJanacek]

Yet another genius idea from Jimmy Carter...

[@PixelHistory]

A day without James Bisonette is a day without sunshine.

[@jamesbissonette8002]

Nah

[@CosmicCreeper99]

History Matters’ channel is the only one that, if someone were to comment “Who asked?” It wouldn’t even come out as rude!

[@HenryMidfields]

Someone: Who asked? Not that I'm complaining... HM: All of you. You just didn't say it out loud.

[@mrterp04]

Always wondered about this. Thanks!

[@eacalvert]

Awesome video as usual!

[@TheAnonimo411]

Ver a Omar Torrijos y Manuel Amador Guerrero en history matter completo una parte de mi vida.

[@alfredoyelisa]

Ñ?

[@LyricsFred]

sin dudas

[@wbcx4491]

Que bueno ver a otro hispanohablante aquí

[@juantamayo5295]

Hola hermano Hispano

[@SniperFallen06]

Ahora falta que hablen del 9 de enero y la invasión del 89

[@NotTheGreenKnight]

Please do a video on how the British ended up colonizing Belize and French intervention in Mexico

[@cashewnuttel9054]

Or how about Sri Lanka? Since Sri Lanka isn't doing well right now...

[@McRocket]

2:45 - I LOVE the speeding, aircraft carrier. Especially the noise and the bow up in the air. 🤣 ☮

[@sail4549]

congratulations on your 1 million subs!

[@user-it7pc5fs7h]

You should make a video about why the US invaded panama in 1989

[@user-op8fg3ny3j]

💯

[@Younima4]

Easy answer... Drug trafficking

[@texaswunderkind]

@@Younima4 I think he meant the _real reason_ not the provided reason. The truth was that Noriega was a corrupt strongman whom the CIA backed in the region because he was strongly anti-communist. But they lost control of him, so he had to be eliminated.

[@thunderbird1921]

@@texaswunderkind There was another case where reportedly the CIA helped get rid of a technically anti-Communist dictator: Raphael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. The reason they gave support to the assassins is that he had become so cruel and violent (he's guilty of attempting at least 1-2 genocides) that they feared the people would support a Communist revolt rather than a transition to democracy if he was not removed soon (Kennedy apparently approved of this assistance and takeout). So he was shot down by like 7 native DR assassins at once. An absolutely horrible man, but taken out in a pretty darn controversial way.

[@stephenjenkins7971]

@@texaswunderkind CIA never had control over any of the people they backed; the CIA just vaguely hopes they will do whatever was in the US' interest that they backed him for (usually anti-Communist) and just ignore everything else as long as it wasn't too damaging. Noriega was later ousted by the US because his actions were too negative to the country's stability and damaged US interests because of it.

[@RabbiKolakowski]

"You're dumb" that pretty much sums up Jimmy Carter

[@mgr2599]

Good stuff as always.

[@Sof1a510]

I didn't know this you're so interesting, I love your videos so much!!!

[@NotContinuum]

The speed battle-boat made me laugh a lot.

[@benjaminclark4030]

I understand the work that goes into these videos takes quite a bit of time and effort, but I really miss the days when they were 10 minutes long. The presentation is so entertaining, the shorter videos just seem to fly by. Lol.

[@cemaydn9284]

I love how the content feels like new article expanding 1 page new to 5 pages. The difference is content is still 1 page long here

[@jasondouglas6755]

I don’t know why but the Air craft Carrier zooming through the Canal made be beak down laughing🤣🤣

[@30secondsflat]

“Why no United West Indies” would be a great idea for a future video

[@wbcx4491]

There actually was a West Indies Federation in the 60s

[@cashewnuttel9054]

Too many power hungry people. Also if there is ever going to be one they definitely need to include Haiti; that fudging country definitely needs fudging foreign rule.

[@ThomasTubeHD]

I love how when Mr Il Duce say fight me to President Roosevelt that next to them an American aircraft carrier just zooms by them at mark 5 speed xD

[@cheeseburgerrunner5217]

That lone “vroom” noise sound bite of the ship zooming by was hilarious.

[@johnschindler7766]

The destroyer zooming through the canal got me

[@ash36230]

International treaties means that these canals can't be used politically to block passage to enemy ships doesn't it? That's true of the Suez, but I'm pretty sure it also applies to the Panama Canal too. They have to remain open to all traffic

[@answerman9933]

Here the difference between Suez Canal, Turkish Straits (another international agreement), and the Panama Canal. Both Egypt and Turkey are reasonably capable to defending their international waterways. Panama can not be expected to hold off a military take over. There are no more US military bases in Panama.

[@ricardokowalski1579]

Panama retains the right to restrict the passage of undeclared weapons. The details are fuzzy about what "undeclared" means. They caught a couple of cuban MIGs in boxes going to North Korea in 2013. g o ogl e 2013 Chong Chon Gang panama mig 21

[@Nosirt]

In the treaty, USA has the permanent right to militarize the canal of its interest are ever under threat. So while it’s ok for anyone to use it- legally, USA can tell Panama to “block” a shipment for national interest or transfer the canal back.

[@purplespeckledappleeater8738]

If Panama comes under attack and because the Panama Canal is and always been a major strategic asset, the US will step in militarily. A lot of people don't release how bad it would be if a terrorist attack or an attack by a hostile nation crippled or destroyed the Panama Canal. It would crush international shipping through the region and cripple the ability of the USA and other nations to move ships from Atlantic/Pacific/vice versa. I'm seeing way too many ignorant comments calling the USA imperialist, but if the Panama Canal was rendered inoperable, shipping and transit would come to a near complete halt. The Panama Canal was a major target of the IJN during WWII and is still a target of terrorist groups to this day.

[@nighttoaster6401]

The warship speeding through the canal had me dying

[@BrammBass]

Another great video. Thanks!

[@prakashghumaliya2002]

Thank you for video sir

[@-socialcredit]

I love how "the US is gonna be a good neighbour" at 2:13 has Castro doubting it hard

[@archieames1968]

Well the US might be forgiven a bit since cuba hasn't been that great a neighbor either. Theres the nationalization of us companies, dumping their criminals on florida, hosting nuclear missiles pointed at the US and trying to convince the Soviets of all people to do a first strike on them, sonic attacks on diplomats etc etc.

[@thunderbird1921]

@@archieames1968 Well said, Cuba is certainly not innocent of doing crap. Heck, remember they meddled in Africa for many years. Even now, they happily work with North Korea and other evil tyrants.

[@manuellorenzo4655]

@@archieames1968 All of which came after Cuba was blocked, even Cuba turning communist and allying the USSR was a result of being blocked by the US.

[@archieames1968]

@@manuellorenzo4655 Cuba was embargoed because they seized US companies and refused to compensate and also were doing the meddling and sponsoring of armed conflict overseas the US is criticized for.

[@silent7159]

@@archieames1968 plus you know the whole missile crisis

[@slyasleep]

Or, another instalment in the series: Nice Guys Finish Last - Jimmy Carter The thought of having two rival canals more or less next to each other is pretty intriguing though.

[@projektkobra2247]

@Billy McChilly -"You're"

[@infinityprodinc]

I love your Videos!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you very much!!

[@taptiotrevizo9415]

That zoom of the ship going through the canal killed me

[@justtheilluminativ282]

Some good video ideas: - Why did Arizona and New Mexico take so long to become states? - Why does Liechtenstein exist? - Why does Swaziland exist? - Why did Kazakhstan give up its nukes? - How and why did North Korea build nukes? - How did America’s rivals (Cuba, Iran etc.) react to 9/11? - Why didn’t America restore relations with Iran? - Why does France still own French Guiana and New Caledonia? - Why did the First Mexican Empire fall apart? - Why does America own Hawaii? - Why is Haiti so poor? - Why are there two Congos? - Why were there two Yemens? - Why did France give up Canada? - Why did France keep Réunion Island? - How and why did Pakistan get nukes? - How and why did India get nukes?

[@jacobjgleggy1854]

And why did Belarus 🇧🇾 give up their nukes??

[@brandonlyon730]

Most likely they same reason Ukraine gave them up, they were to expensive to maintain and they didn’t have the codes to even launch them anyway so they were basically useless to them so why bother wasting tax payer money on them.

[@KingChayle87]

You know what I've always wondered? Why Japan gave up trying to claim Sakhalin island. They'd been fighting the Russians over it for a long time.

[@xXxSkyViperxXx]

they realized hokkaido is as far as ainu land they can encrouch on, or once they managed to get back the southern kuril islands, theyd consider more about the rest of the kurils and sakhalin

[@jonathanwilliams1065]

Because the US nuked them and told them to

[@alswann2702]

Because the US whooped 'em.

[@anthonyemerson2965]

The sight gags in this one are A-plus. Annoyed Fidel, “Jimothy Carter”, the speeding ship…perfection.

[@jeffgerritsen6502]

Loved the speeding ship through the canal.

[@luckymanspectator5251]

"It never happened because digging is quite hard, and digging through a continent is even harder." One more time I failed to not laugh at the deadpan humor. Also is that copper at 0:50?

[@adamkerman475]

No, I don’t know what it is but I remember that copper had another color in it in the Minecraft texture.

[@waffle6376]

that Iron

[@guillermorojasc]

I love how the narrator didn't mention the campaing for the Panama Canal, the voting on the UN or the diplomatic meetings about it and the congress decision on favor of it. Erroneously portraying it as just a Jimmy Carter decision.

[@HoennMaster]

The ship zooming at 2:45 🤣

[@ianoconnell5074]

Love these videos

[@LuisCastro-rb3mq]

This is incredibly accurate. As a Panamanian fan of this channel I can say the drawings were extremely satisfying.

[@piedrablanca1942]

y como te sientes de que los gringos le hayan robado a Colombia la región de Panamá?

[@LuisCastro-rb3mq]

@@piedrablanca1942 se jodio Colombia por 1 querer extorsionar tanto a Panama como a los gringos por pedir más dinero 2 por dejar el departamento de Panama en el olvido social y económico y 3 por tener un tan pésimo manejo de política interior a finales de los 1800 que no tomó mucho esfuerzo panameño para liberar al istmo, además de los soldados colombianos defectotes a Panama por el mal trato de parte del gobierno colombiano

[@SomaliaANTIMIJISIMIOZDEMIERDA4]

Se siente bien, al ver que Panama se independizó solo de España, ¿Cómo le van a robar algo que no le pertenece a Colombia? (Panamá)

[@panamatrixtv359]

@@piedrablanca1942 se siente super bien poruqe con mis Dolares compro de todo super barato en tu pais

[@mikeskadi]

most history classes dont tech us about smaller historical events but this one does and i love it!

[@sixteenseven123]

That boat flying through the canal with the sound effect caught me so off guard, I died😂😂

[@JessHart006]

That... was impressively concise and pointed. I clicked on this video prepared to nitpick and retort, but you really did strike to the heart of the matter and hit all the major points without flinching. Kudos especially to noting that calling a date in the far future allowed the USA to continue collecting profits up until that point; a proxy war of canals during that period would have cost the USA its profits, but that's unlikely to come up in a normal debate because it sounds gauche.

[@sumelk1020]

At this point, you should just put “James Bisonnette” on a t-shirt and sell it on your merch store

[@devilfriend]

This is spot on. If you go back and check classified documents from that time the US was concerned the whole Latin America was planning to revolt against them. They really though there was a possibility of Panama revels or even their own military could blow The Canal up if the US didn't leave. However, I truly believe they could have retained it wasn't for the "9 de Enero" incident, which was avoidable, just like many things they've done in occupied countries.

[@attiepollard7847]

This is why Jimmy Carter's the most stupidest president of all times

[@Skeloperch]

@@attiepollard7847 Hey, every generation has their Buchanan, Carter, or Biden.

[@josethomas6085]

@@Skeloperch Every generation also has their Grant, Reagan and Trump. What’s your point?

[@bigboiganiga8356]

@@josethomas6085 Leaving Americans property funded by Americans by the billions dollars? Definately a Biden moment.

[@burningphoenix6679]

@@josethomas6085 don’t put Grant with the worst president of the 20th century and the worst one of the 21st century

[@itsgodnga]

I fucking lost it when the battleship zoomed by like a speedboat at 2:45 🤣

[@EldredTGlass]

My grandfather Eldred Solomon Glass served two long hitches in the steam repair shops at the Panama Canal

[@alterego480]

2:19 signed Jimothy Carter

[@kosmologist]

2:56 Panama on the Panamanian paneling 👀

[@pdm2201]

The canal was never “returned “ or “given back” to Panama. It was gradually transferred by the U.S. to Panama and the transfer was completed in December of 1999 when Panama was given control of the waterway for the first time.

[@emptyhad2571]

Exactly

[@dmdrosselmeyer]

I've been binging this channel lately, it's fucking great💯

[@benjaminaraya8073]

History matters’s graphics get better with every video.

[@HistoryfortheAges]

Many years ago my U.S. History professor said that after Colombia refused to play ball "T.R stole the panama canal fair and square" lol

[@ricardokowalski1579]

Teddy was the man! 👍😁

[@HistoryfortheAges]

@@ricardokowalski1579 When I taught U.S. history I always loved lecturing on him. But for the past 15 years my focus has been Western civilization and the history of the Middle East.

[@thunderbird1921]

Many don't realize just how many nations America has created or helped to create. We've set up at least 6-7 to my knowledge.

[@nathanmckay788]

I like learning from this KZbin channel. So, easy dubs.

[@mrtalos]

Loved the sound of the ship being rapidly redeployed

[@joermnyc]

Failed to mention that America built it’s own canal through difficult conditions: the Erie Canal.

[@bobave2463]

I lived in the Canal Zone from 1976 to 1982. Saw the initial transition that ended the US control over the Canal Zone.

[@jansenart0]

I lost it with that zooming warship XD

[@williamsheets9539]

The clip of the carrier going through the canal was worth it.

[@connorgolden4]

A question I did want answered more thoroughly.

[@hanchuchen]

Little known fact: James Bisonette also funded the Panama Canal

[@jasonreisenberger1285]

Back in the 90's we still had military there in the form of Jungle School. I had always wanted to attempt it. My counterpart in Korea had been an instructor there. During an extended live fire exercise (3 weeks at different positions) we had time to talk about it, and he gave me some tips. We got out of the field and I submitted a 4187 for Jungle School. About a month later Clinton shut down Jungle School. Yes that was direct from him when he was President.

[@DerEiserneBuerger]

2:44 I love the humor of this chanel!