The Big Ditch (ebook)

Argumento de The Big Ditch (ebook)

"The history of the Panama Canal's construction, operation, and eventual transfer to the Panamanian government offers a fascinating window on US imperialism in the 20th century. Maurer and Yu provide a deeply researched and highly readable economic history of the canal."--Choice

"[T]he authors' sophisticated and persuasive analysis helps illuminate the economic history--and consequences--of the Panama Canal. This book brings new questions and answers to the study of U.S. imperialism and simultaneously demonstrates the usefulness of economic history for a field often dominated by cultural and social methodologies."--Julie Greene, Journal of American History

"The Big Ditch strikes an interesting balance in addressing both the political and economic dimensions of imperialism and the practices of empire, and fills a gap by providing a comprehensive analysis of the Panama Canal through a century of its history."--Joseph Michael Gratale, European Journal of American Studies

"Meticulously researched and brilliantly argued, The Big Ditch provides a seminal analysis of the economic motivations and consequences of American imperialism. The book is not just about the Panama Canal, but also much more broadly about the nature and legacy of Western colonialism. It will force many of us to rethink what we thought we knew."--James Robinson, coauthor of Economic Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy

"Why did the United States build the Panama Canal at tremendous cost in lives and treasure, and then give it away to the Panamanians? What exactly did we do with the Canal when we owned it? Did it make money or was it a boondoggle? Read this fascinating book and learn the answers."--Stephen Haber, Stanford University

"This landmark book offers important new insights that will significantly advance our understanding of the national and global economic consequences of the Panama Canal. It will have a profound and lasting impact on the history of U.S. imperialism in Latin America and represents a contribution to the emergent literature on the new political economy of empire."--Alan Dye, Barnard College, Columbia University

"This dynamic and entertaining book provides the first modern and quantitative interpretation of the economic and political history of the Panama Canal, one of the largest infrastructure works ever connected to the creation of a new country, the prevention of malaria and yellow fever, the reduction of transport prices, the promotion of international trade, and the redistribution of wealth in the United States."--Xavier Duran, London School of Economics and Political Science and Northwestern University

"[T]his book teaches us important lessons on the global consequences of imperial ventures with particular insights on institutional development, economic and political constraints and power."--Leticia Arroyo Abad, EH.Net0List of Illustrations vii
List of Tables ix
Preface xiii
Chapter One: Introduction to the Ditch 1
Chapter Two: Before the Ditch 13
Chapter Three: Preparing the Ditch 55
Chapter Four: Digging the Ditch 97
Chapter Five: Crossing the Ditch 139
Chapter Six: Passed by the Ditch 189
Chapter Seven: Sliding into Irrelevancy 212
Chapter Eight: Ditching the Ditch 264
Chapter Nine: Concluding the Ditch 313
Notes 333
Index 401