The land where he needed to build his canal was owned by Colombia and they would not allow it.
News and media coverage featuring the acts done by the terrorist groups or organization to the mainstream public audience. Say some attack happened in a local area and you see the details on the news, in result of this you will naturally be more aware and paranoid because of the fear of an attack happening to you. Its a scare tactic used to induce fear.
the British seemed unbeatable. During the previous 100 years, the British had enjoyed triumph after triumph over nations as powerful as France and Spain. At first glance, the odds were clearly against the Americans. A closer look provides insight into how the underdogs emerged victorious.
Britain's military was the best in the world. Their soldiers were well equipped, well disciplined, well paid, and well fed. The British navy dominated the seas. Funds were much more easily raised by the Empire than by the Continental Congress
The Soviet Union dominated politics in eastern Europe
