The American Vision © 2008

"Erie Canal"

Introduction
In this chapter you learned that the success of the Erie Canal spurred the construction of canals throughout the nation during the early 1800s. Connecting the Hudson River in the east with the Great Lakes in the west, the Erie Canal linked distant frontier communities to the trade centers of the east. Canal boats towed by mules traveled the length of New York State along the four-foot deep man-made waterway. Fostered in their wake were economic prosperity and western expansion. Go to this Web site to learn more about the Erie Canal's impact on the development of the United States.

Destination Title: New York State Canals

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Directions
Start at the New York State Canals Web site.

• Click on the Canal Culture link on the left side of the page.
• Click on the Canal History topic.
• Read through the information on this page. Continue your research by clicking on the an account of the history of the Erie Canal link that appears at the bottom of the page. Use the "Map" link at the top of the page to view a map of the Erie Canal.
• Browse through the site, taking notes as you go.

1			Why was construction of the Erie Canal a great challenge?
2			How was the economy of New York impacted?
3			How did the canal foster western expansion?
4			What frontier resources became more readily available to the eastern seaboard?
5			Imagine that you are a shipping merchant in the 1830s and your business is along the newly constructed Erie Canal. On a separate sheet of paper, design a newspaper advertisement that offers your shipping services. Be sure to identify what it is that you transport, what benefits canal transport offers the customer, what towns you serve, and why customers should choose your service.