In what ways did developments in transportation bring about economic and social change in the usa in the period 1820 to 1860?
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The first development in transportation was the building of canals with locks that could raise and lower canal boats. The first was the Eire Canal which opened in 1825. It was build by the State of New York after the Federal Government (notably Thomas Jefferson) refused to contribute funds. That was a great benefit to New York State and a great mistake for the Federal Government. The Eire Canal is one of the most successful transportation projects in American history. It opened the Great Lakes region to trade and made New York City the most important port and financial center in the country. New York still is the most important financial center and the Port of New York is extremely important to the nation. But the rest of the nation, which might have benefited, did not because Thomas Jefferson rejected the opportunity.
Other canals were build. None was as successful as the Erie but some were successful and lasted until the early 20th century.
Next, beginning about 1830, was the railroads. Even in the 1830's railroads were capable of traveling 30 miles an hour relative to the 4 to 5 miles an hours by wagon or canal boat which had existed for thousands of years. Early railroads were short and limited in what they could haul but before long railroads, because of their speed, made canals obsolete. And when it came to moving passengers there was no comparison. For example, there were about 10 short lines built along the Erie Canal which were unified to become the New York Central. A businessman in one city could get on the train and in an hour be in a city 30 miles away. He could return the same night. Before the railroads it would have taken a day to make the journey by canal boat.
In the mid west railroads made it possible to raise wheat and haul it to the Great Lakes where it would be sent by a Great Lakes steam boat to Buffalo and then sent to New York on the Erie Canal. Before the railroads in areas distant from a Great Lakes port animal transportation would have been so expensive that shipping the wheat to Europe would have been impossible. By 1860 there were about 30,000 miles of railroad in the country where there had been none in 1820.
When Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer he rode circuit with his fellow lawyers and the judge months during the year. Before the railroads came to Illinois he would be away from home the whole time. After the railroads he could go home every weekend. That is the difference railroads made in his life and in many lives.
Other canals were build. None was as successful as the Erie but some were successful and lasted until the early 20th century.
Next, beginning about 1830, was the railroads. Even in the 1830's railroads were capable of traveling 30 miles an hour relative to the 4 to 5 miles an hours by wagon or canal boat which had existed for thousands of years. Early railroads were short and limited in what they could haul but before long railroads, because of their speed, made canals obsolete. And when it came to moving passengers there was no comparison. For example, there were about 10 short lines built along the Erie Canal which were unified to become the New York Central. A businessman in one city could get on the train and in an hour be in a city 30 miles away. He could return the same night. Before the railroads it would have taken a day to make the journey by canal boat.
In the mid west railroads made it possible to raise wheat and haul it to the Great Lakes where it would be sent by a Great Lakes steam boat to Buffalo and then sent to New York on the Erie Canal. Before the railroads in areas distant from a Great Lakes port animal transportation would have been so expensive that shipping the wheat to Europe would have been impossible. By 1860 there were about 30,000 miles of railroad in the country where there had been none in 1820.
When Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer he rode circuit with his fellow lawyers and the judge months during the year. Before the railroads came to Illinois he would be away from home the whole time. After the railroads he could go home every weekend. That is the difference railroads made in his life and in many lives.
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