How The US Stole The Panama Canal, Mapped

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Johnny Harris is a filmmaker and journalist. He currently is based in Washington, DC, reporting on interesting trends and stories domestically and around the globe. Johnny's visual style blends motion graphics with cinematic videography to create content that explains complex issues in relatable ways. He holds a BA in international relations from Brigham Young University and an MA in international peace and conflict resolution from American University.

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[Legalizeasbestos]

Philippe must be the only engineer in history who can put “created a nation to support project” on their resume.

[NightRaider]

Phillipe really was the embodiment of the saying, “Don’t let your dreams be dreams” in the most conniving and manipulative sense of the word. Man really wanted that canal lmao

[Katnnissgetta]

When the French were under the construction of the canal people actually didn’t know that the mosquitos were causing the yellow fever that was killing the workers, they thought the ants are the ones transmitting it. So nurses put water bowls under the beds’s legs of the workers so that the ants don’t come crawling to the workers but instead it just make the perfect breading ground for the mosquitos causing more deaths.

[floydthompson]

If teachers taught history like this, it would be every child's favorite subject!

[javieraleman]

Hi Johnny, this was a really cool video. I am panamenian and this story has been told to us in school a lot of times but you have made a great work explaining it. Thank you for sharing this with the world :D

[bodombeastmode]

A couple of years ago I never would have thought I would be learning history from the Vox Borders guy. Seriously, his videos are incredible. Especially when considering it's basically just one guy.

[MrOomariooO]

Johnny is the history teacher we all wish we had, the librarian who knows those books which won't let us sleep at night, that father's friend who always has these interesting stories to share. I was sad when Johnny left Vox, now tho I couldn't be happier. Thanks for all the great work :)

[josedanielvillegas]

Yes very sad we colombians (I'm colombian) lost Panama. But let me tell you this: I was in Panamá one month ago, and they are freaking better without us. Being independent from Colombia is the best thing that could ever happen to them.

[arielvillanueva]

I'm a Panamanian, and even tho I've been taught this in school for years, you have a way of telling it that is just fascinating.
Fun fact: After we got the canal back, we basically built it again by making the canal expansion with an entirely new and larger set of locks. Today most of the canal has been built by Panama itself.

[mariokartgamecube]

Shouts out to Phillipe, who held the bag so hard that he orchestrated a coup and changed the course of global events just to get his investment back

[andrewkean]

Your storytelling ability just keeps getting better. I couldn't wait to hear the next part of that story.

[Trx-eprg]

Panamanian here. A very accurate retelling of this amazing story that gave birth to my country! Props Johnny!

[chiefmonrovia]

Oh those photos of Teddy weren't propaganda, Teddy just actually wanted to play with the big machines 100%

[aegisofhonor]

the irony is, the volcanos that "threatened" the canal project in Nicaragua were on the opposite side of the lake where the canal was planned to be built and no active volcanos were threatening the canal from the south (all of them were north). The nearest active volcano was a good 70 miles north of the canal zone and was of no threat to the canal in any way.

[adwita]

The Phillepe guy, woah. I can't decide if I like him or not but I damn well admire him. Just how did a single French engineer manage to single-handedly manipulate and maneuver three countries, and slickly worked his way out. Just WOW.

[leninisrael]

Oh my God. I’m Panamanian and this videos has totally blown my mind. I had always heard about the Hay Bunau Varilla Treaty and I never knew its real background story. It’s so wild how Philippe literally tricked us to build the canal which caused us so many conflicts with the US. It’s the best video I’ve ever seen about the canal story. Great job! 🙌🏽

[unrox]

Phillipe has big “apply for the job you’re severely unqualified for” energy

[DudyMoko]

I grew up in the former Canal Zone area and it was very exciting hearing Johnny talk about it with such historical accuracy. I've seen many documentaries throughout the years with fatal historical errors (usually from the American point of view, which oftentimes depicted them as the world superheroes) but this one really gets it right. Thanks Johnny.

[mariuszarszylo]

I stayed in Panama for 2 weeks a few years ago, and we ended up visiting the panama canal. At first I honestly didn't care too much, but once you get there and see it in person...wow. I could have sat there and watched boats entering/exiting all day long. It honestly is a technological marvel.

[marcknopf]

Great video! But you forgot to mention two things: first, the were dozens of panamanian villages across de river with thousands of habitants which were forced to leave their lands in order for the canal to be built. Whole villages lay deep in the waters of the artificial lake. Second, panama proved the world that they can not only administrate the canal by themselves but also built a new set of locks in order to pass the post panamax ships (biggest container ships atm) by themselves. It is in fact a engineering wonder brought to reality by different nations.