Lots of people were interested in being able to travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific without going around South America.
Ship travel took a long time, so this was the motivation force to build a canal, and the U.S. was not the first country to attempt to build it.
France had tried to dig a canal but failed.
We weren't interested, we BUILT the Panama Canal. By the way, this question is basic information, if you look at a freaking map. I hate when people don't even attempt to take the time to do their own homework, and just post it on Y.A. -.-
