Canals
During the 1820s and the 1830s, came extensive canal-building projects. Canals (artificial waterways) contributed to the emerging national economy, as they made transporting goods more convenient and quick. The actual process of building canals came over as a challenge for Americans, as they weren't used to such improvements. In order to proceed with the projects, engineers were either sent out to England to learn and train, or figure out how to approach the project themselves, with was more often the case.
The earliest canal-project began in Pennsylvania and Virginia, with the common goal of improving transportation to the Ohio Valley. Starting in 1791, the Pennsylvania legislature gathered a private group of leading townspeople and they began work on the Schuylkill and Susquehanna Canal. William Weston, an English engineer, was brought over to America to supervise the construction of the canal. As many canals were worked on in sections, the first working canal in America was the short "portage canal" at the Great Falls on the lower Susquehanna in Pennsylvania in 1797.
The earliest canal-project began in Pennsylvania and Virginia, with the common goal of improving transportation to the Ohio Valley. Starting in 1791, the Pennsylvania legislature gathered a private group of leading townspeople and they began work on the Schuylkill and Susquehanna Canal. William Weston, an English engineer, was brought over to America to supervise the construction of the canal. As many canals were worked on in sections, the first working canal in America was the short "portage canal" at the Great Falls on the lower Susquehanna in Pennsylvania in 1797.
Erie Canal
Governor DeWitt Clinton’s plan for connecting the Hudson River with Lake Erie was endorsed by the New York legislature. Between 1817 and 1825, the state financed and built the Erie Canal, extending 363 miles and binding New York City to the Great Lakes and the Northwest. The Erie Canal carried the sarcastic titular nickname "Clinton's Big Ditch." The "Big Ditch" reduced travel time from New York to Buffalo from twenty days to six days.The Erie Canal proved to be an immediate financial success, as it sparked a canal-building mania resulting in around 3,000 miles of waterways by 1840.
As the "Big Ditch" was such a success, demand grew. In order to keep up with the traffic, the Erie Canal enlarged between 1836 and 1862. It enlarged again in 1903 and was named the "Barge Canal" consisting of the Erie Canal and the three chief branches of the State system -- the Champlain, the Oswego, and the Cayuga and Seneca Canals.The resulting canal was completed in 1918.
As the "Big Ditch" was such a success, demand grew. In order to keep up with the traffic, the Erie Canal enlarged between 1836 and 1862. It enlarged again in 1903 and was named the "Barge Canal" consisting of the Erie Canal and the three chief branches of the State system -- the Champlain, the Oswego, and the Cayuga and Seneca Canals.The resulting canal was completed in 1918.
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Sources used:
The Transportation Revolution Revisited: Towards a New Mapping of America's Transportation Network in the 19th Century (academic journal)
On the Move: Transportation and the American Story (Book)
The American People Creating a Nation and a Society (Textbook)
The Transportation Revolution from APStudyNotes (website)
The Erie Canal: "Clinton's Big Ditch" (website)
The Transportation Revolution Revisited: Towards a New Mapping of America's Transportation Network in the 19th Century (academic journal)
On the Move: Transportation and the American Story (Book)
The American People Creating a Nation and a Society (Textbook)
The Transportation Revolution from APStudyNotes (website)
The Erie Canal: "Clinton's Big Ditch" (website)