2. SIGNIFICANCE
Westward Expansion
Industrial Revolution (connecting raw materials with
factories and markets)
Created a national market economy with regional areas
specializing in certain economic activites.
Jump started the building of new cities.
3. TURNPIKES AND ROADS
The Lancaster Turnpike in Pennsylvania was highly
successful, and helped jump start western
development.
Turnpike boom lasted about 20 years.
The National Road (Cumberland Road) is built in 1811.
4. STEAMBOATS
Overlapped the turnpike boom
The first successful steamboat was built by Robert
Fulton.
Steamboats were a big hit because in changed
America’s navigable steams which doubled the carrying
capacity.
Ran 10 miles an hour
Played a big part in opening the West and South
5. CANALS
The Erie Canal linked the Great Lakes with the Hudson
River (1817-1825)
Shipping time reduced from 20 days to 6 days.
New cities emerged such as Rochester and Syracuse.
NY became the fastest growing and wealthiest city on
the east coast.
6. RAILROADS
The first transcontinental railroad is built in 1869.
They were faster and cheaper to build than canals.
By 1860, 30,000 miles of railroad track covered the US.
7. OPPOSITION
Turnpikes- States’ rights advocates didn’t want federal
aid to local internal improvements, and the Eastern
states were concerned over population growth.
Railroads- canal builder, turnpike investors and some
famers who made money transporting goods were
opposed to the railroad system.
