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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the main issue impeding fumigation in U.S. facilities?

2. John Stevens is scheduled to accompany William H. Taft to the Philippines to advise on railroad construction, when who urges John Stevens to go to Panama as John Findley Wallace's successor?

3. George W. Goethals allows employees to air grievances where?

4. Who heads the U.S. Army's medical service during World War I and dies in London in 1920?

5. Manuel Amador looking to improve sanitation and end centuries of plague, invests what amount of U.S. $10 million payment into urgent public works projects?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is it the U.S. must come to grips with Article 35 of the Bidack Treaty in regard to Panama?

2. What is Panama's social structure like?

3. What is it about May 4, 1904, that makes it a significant date in the history of the Canal Zone?

4. What is the social life like in Panama for canal workers during Goethals' time?

5. What is traffic like following opening of the canal?

6. Why is Colonel William Crawford Gorgas sent to Panama?

7. Where does David McCullough get his subtitle for Chapter 12?

8. What became of Phillippee Banau-Varilla?

9. What does George Washington Goethals do after the canal is completed?

10. George Washington Goethals did not have the easy way with people as his predecessor John Stevens did, so what steps did he take for effective leadership?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In 1884, at age 26, Phillippe Banau-Varilla is put in charge of operations at the Culebra and Pacific end of the Panama Canal. When the director general and his assistant resign, Banau-Varilla becomes acting head of the Panama project until 1886. Why do they place so young an individual in such important leadership positions? What education and experience does he have? How well is he able to perform? What happens when a permanent director general arrives? Where does Banau-Varilla go?

Essay Topic 2

The Panama Canal is built under three American presidents: Theodore Roosevelt, William H. Taft, and Woodrow Wilson. Who can be given the most credit for U.S. success there? What actions or efforts, before, during, or after their time in office, substantiate your position in selecting one over the other two?

Essay Topic 3

Chapter 3 shows that only Ferdinand de Lesseps's preconceived opinions and views matter at the 1879 Congris International d'Ytudes du Canal Interocyanique in Paris. Why does de Lesseps not hold a legitimate meeting? Would it still not have come down to Panama or Nicaragua, as it did in the debates years later in Walker vs. Morgan? He is definitely a "take charge" type, but why does he continuously shrug off critical facts presented to him? Why does his success not carry over to Panama?

(see the answer keys)

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