The U.S.
After the Suez Canal was finished in 1869, the French felt that they could now achieve the Panama Canal.
The French
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french
The French had the idea to build a canal across Panama first and they started the project; after about their sixth year working on the canal they ended up going bankrupt. that is when the US showed interest in buying the canal for the French, but Columbia, who at the time owned Panama, would not allow the purchase. An agreement was made with Panama to help them get their independence the US would be allowed to finish building the canal.
the USA got the equipment from the building but the land was just rented to the french.
Philippe Bunau- Varilla
No. The French attempt to complete the Panama Canal failed.
The panama canal got started in the year 1881. This started on January 1st.
French interests headed by de Lessups (who had built the Suez Canal) originally tried constructing the Panama Canal but went bankrupt and gave up.
Panama Canal
I did not begin building the panama canal, and I did not finish it either.