... been several attempts to build a canal across the isthmus of Panama in the 19th century, the most famous by Ferdinand de Lesseps, the builder of the Suez Canal. All of them had failed because of jungle diseases and engineering difficulties. At the turn of the century, Panama was a province of Colombia. A French-owned company, The New Panama Canal Company, held a concession from the government of Colombia to build a canal across ... the isthmus. Though virtually bankrupt and unable to find ... ...

• Word Count: 2823
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: High School

... rich coast. It took the Spanish settlers 60 years to make a dent in the jungle to colonize the country but like with the European invasion during that time, many of the natives started dying in mass numbers due to the sicknesses brought over from the Spanish. It was a poor country for the time and it wasn't until 1808 when the natives discovered that the volcanoes actually made the soil so rich that ... it is some of the only party in the world where the best ... and watch. Since the lava around the area keeps the land warm the spring is always at a comfortable 90-95 degree temperature...

• Word Count: 2955
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

... friends to volunteer. That night, he played his only song. But he played it as a waltz, tango, fox trot, and others. The audience never knew the difference (Turkell 81-85). Ellington was an artist. At Armstrong High School, Duke loved to paint as well as play piano (Turkell 82 ... Thompson became Mrs. Ellington in 1918. Edna was Duke's, now 21, high school sweetheart. A year later, Mercer Ellington was born (Turkell 86). In the mid twenties, Duke left Edna, and went to live with a dancer named Mildred Dixon. In 1938, Duke left her, and finally settled down with ... 1932, Lawrence Brown'...

• Word Count: 1581
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School