From: Karmen Lewis
Date: 3/16/00
Time: 1:21:52 AM
Remote Name: 155.247.154.37
Karmen L Lewis History 67 Tuesday/Thursday William Cutler 3/15/00
Text Assignment: What was the transportation revolution and why was it important to the freedom intake in the early nineteenth century?
As time passed and larger numbers of people were moving westward, quicker and less time consuming transportation was needed. In 1811, the U.S. government provided the people with The National Road a.k.a. The Cumberland Road. In the beginning the road ran from Cumberland, Maryland, to Wheeling on the Ohio River. In time the National Road reached Vandalia, Illinois and many other places. Many people thought the states should build more new roads. Since the states could not afford it, private companies began to build them. The toll money helped to pay the companies for the cost of building and keeping up the roads. At first the toll gate was only a pole, or pike, set across the road and raised or turned aside to let travelers pass. These roads came to be known as “turnpikes”(This is Americas Story, FIFTH EDITION Page 304).One of the most important turnpikes was the Lancaster Turnpike connecting Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Turnpikes helped to transport families and goods to the land of the west. Traveling by water became an important means of transportation. It was the new more efficient way of carrying products over long distances. The floatboat was the most affordable means of transportation for the common person. During the 1800’s the power of steam was set into motion. The fist person interested in steam power was Robert John Fitch. Unfortunately, his version of the steam boat was not successful. Another American inventor by the name of Robert Fulton decided to build a new and improved steamboat. In 1803, the finished steamboat successfully made its way to Albany and back. Many Americans were attracted to the steamboat. Some steamboats became fancy floating hotels, casinos, and provided amenities on water. Due to Governor DeWitt Clinton determination, the Erie Canal was built. After eight yeas of work the Erie Canal was finished in 1825; the canal was 40 feet wide and 363 miles long. The Erie Canal quickly became the busiest and most important route between the West and Atlantic seaboard. In addition, The canal trade helped the city of New York become one of the largest cities.