• Preface and acknowledgments; Part I. Prelude: 1826–1904: 1. The quest for an American canal, 1826–1903; 2. 'I took the isthmus', 1903–4; Part II. Beginnings: 1904–29: 3. The zone régime; 4. The labour force; 5. The Commissary; 6. The protectorate; 7. Canal defence; Part III. Transitions: 1930–55: 8. The zone régime; 9. The labour force; 10. The commissary; 11. Partnership politics; 12. Canal defence; Part IV. Recessional: 1956–79: 13. 'Mandate from civilization'?, Map of the Canal Zone; Appendices; Bibliography.

"John Major has produced a diplomatic historian's history of the United States' Panama Canal policy: meticulously sourced and laden with documentary evidence, this jewel will be the standard on the subject for years to come....Every possible document that is currently available has been used....[and] these many sources are woven into a narrative that is a pleasure to read." Margaret E. Scranton, International History Review

• Preface and acknowledgments; Part I. Prelude: 1826–1904: 1. The quest for an American canal, 1826–1903; 2. 'I took the isthmus', 1903–4; Part II. Beginnings: 1904–29: 3. The zone régime; 4. The labour force; 5. The Commissary; 6. The protectorate; 7. Canal defence; Part III. Transitions: 1930–55: 8. The zone régime; 9. The labour force; 10. The commissary; 11. Partnership politics; 12. Canal defence; Part IV. Recessional: 1956–79: 13. 'Mandate from civilization'?, Map of the Canal Zone; Appendices; Bibliography.

"John Major has produced a diplomatic historian's history of the United States' Panama Canal policy: meticulously sourced and laden with documentary evidence, this jewel will be the standard on the subject for years to come....Every possible document that is currently available has been used....[and] these many sources are woven into a narrative that is a pleasure to read." Margaret E. Scranton, International History Review

• Preface and acknowledgments; Part I. Prelude: 1826–1904: 1. The quest for an American canal, 1826–1903; 2. 'I took the isthmus', 1903–4; Part II. Beginnings: 1904–29: 3. The zone régime; 4. The labour force; 5. The Commissary; 6. The protectorate; 7. Canal defence; Part III. Transitions: 1930–55: 8. The zone régime; 9. The labour force; 10. The commissary; 11. Partnership politics; 12. Canal defence; Part IV. Recessional: 1956–79: 13. 'Mandate from civilization'?, Map of the Canal Zone; Appendices; Bibliography.

"John Major has produced a diplomatic historian's history of the United States' Panama Canal policy: meticulously sourced and laden with documentary evidence, this jewel will be the standard on the subject for years to come....Every possible document that is currently available has been used....[and] these many sources are woven into a narrative that is a pleasure to read." Margaret E. Scranton, International History Review