Two major reasons: First off, a canal was a huge business boon to the US. Most Americans lived on the east coast, but huge opportunities existed on the west. The naval trip around the southern tip of South America added 8000 miles to a trip. read more
Roosevelt wanted to connect the Eastern and Western coasts of the U.S. in order to consolidate the Nation, at a time when the U.S. railways system was still incipient. read more
Before the canal, ships would have to travel all the way around South America to get to the Pacific Ocean. Digging a canal shortened the distance and vastly improved the movement of goods throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. read more