What country dug the panama canal first?
France started construction of the canal but they encountered difficulties and diseases such as Yellow Fever and Malaria. The United States took over the project and was a success, but the Panamanians disliked the presence of the United States in their country. Even though the canal created several economic boosts for them, they thought it was colonialism. U.S President Jimmy Carter signed a treaty with Panama to give Panama the canal by 2000. As of today, Panama is the rightful owner of the canal.