The benefits from the panama canal?
helped to increase the economy. Travel became easier and faster. There were particular benefits for the U.S., as the nation had recently expaned fully out west to california, which was colonized in 1802. when gold was discovered in california soon after, America was eager to create a short sea passage to her western-most parts for gold shipment, rather than transporting gold over land to her east coast. America was also interested in easier access to her pacific colonies, such as Hawaii, Guam, and the Phillipines, which she had aquired from Spain just before that time.
