What key conflict was the construction of the Panama Canal initially associated with?

The construction of the Panama Canal is closely linked with the Spanish-Cuban War, particularly because the geopolitical dynamics that emerged from this conflict influenced U.S. interests in Central America and the Caribbean. Following the war, which ended in 1898 with the Treaty of Paris, the United States gained control over territories in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and Guam, and began to focus on expansion into Latin America.

The need for a faster route between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans became increasingly apparent as the U.S. sought to enhance its naval capabilities and facilitate military and commercial movement. The strategic importance of the region, underscored by the lessons learned during the Spanish-Cuban War, made the construction of the canal a priority for U.S. foreign policy.

While the other conflicts listed had significant historical importance, they did not have the same direct impact on the motivations for the canal's construction. For example, World War I was largely a conflict focused on Europe, while the Mexican Revolution pertained to internal issues within Mexico. The Cuban War of Independence did have relevance to U.S. interests, but the direct connection between that war and the initial motivations for the canal’s construction is not as pronounced as in the case of the Spanish-Cuban War.