Problems in Transportation

New Solutions Needed!

Formal Roads

» Turnpikes» Maintained by private companies» At various points, people needed to pay to use

them

» Corduroy Roads» Made in swampy areas» Created with logs» Kept wagons from sinking into mud, but…» They were very bumpy!

Roads/Highways

» Advantages» Could be built

anywhere» Travel during

every season» Cheapest » Travel at own pace

» Disadvantages» Couldn’t carry as

much» Slowest!

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

The SteamboatThe Steamboat• This new invention changed water travel forever

– First created by John Fitch

• Demonstrated capabilities to Constitutional Convention

• He opened a ferry service with it, but his business failed

– Robert Fulton successfully used a steamboat

• Clermont served as a ferry on the Hudson River• 300 mile trip in 62 hours

• This new invention changed water travel forever – First created by John Fitch

• Demonstrated capabilities to Constitutional Convention

• He opened a ferry service with it, but his business failed

– Robert Fulton successfully used a steamboat

• Clermont served as a ferry on the Hudson River• 300 mile trip in 62 hours

The SteamboatThe Steamboat

• Advantages– Cut travel time– Easily travel upstream– Could carry large

amounts of goods– Cheap$$$$$$

• Advantages– Cut travel time– Easily travel upstream– Could carry large

amounts of goods– Cheap$$$$$$

• Disadvantages– Technology not

perfected yet

• Explosions & fires were common(boom)

– Had to follow the path of a river

• Couldn’t go everywhere

• Disadvantages– Technology not

perfected yet

• Explosions & fires were common(boom)

– Had to follow the path of a river

• Couldn’t go everywhere

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

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CanalsCanals

• Man-made waterways– Like rivers

• A few existed early on– They were very short– Used to connect things very close together

• Man-made waterways– Like rivers

• A few existed early on– They were very short– Used to connect things very close together

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

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Canal BoomCanal Boom

• Erie Canal– “Clinton’s Ditch”

• Plan to link Hudson River (New York City) with Lake Erie• DeWitt Clinton (NY Governor)

– Work began in 1817• Much dug by hand• Bridges over rivers• Complete in 1825

– End Result• Success!• Travel costs were 1/20 the original cost!!!• This encouraged others to make canals

• Erie Canal– “Clinton’s Ditch”

• Plan to link Hudson River (New York City) with Lake Erie• DeWitt Clinton (NY Governor)

– Work began in 1817• Much dug by hand• Bridges over rivers• Complete in 1825

– End Result• Success!• Travel costs were 1/20 the original cost!!!• This encouraged others to make canals

CanalsCanals

• Advantages– Could connect any two

bodies of water– Linked places that

otherwise couldn’t have been linked

• Advantages– Could connect any two

bodies of water– Linked places that

otherwise couldn’t have been linked

• Disadvantages– Expensive to build– Difficult to build– Froze during the

winter (sometimes)– Slower than river

travel

• Disadvantages– Expensive to build– Difficult to build– Froze during the

winter (sometimes)– Slower than river

travel

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Effects on People/Economy

• Allowed for farmers to profit• Allowed for greater western expansion• New cities were formed• Costs of travel and shipping dropped• Communication improved

Map Activity MSQMap Activity MSQ Use the map on page 306 titled, “Major Canals”

1. Which canal helped connect Pittsburgh to the East Coast?

2. The Erie Canal was created to connect what two major bodies of water?

3. Explain why the canals on this map for the most part were connected to the Great Lakes. Answer this from both a logistic perspective and also for practicality.

Use the map on page 306 titled, “Major Canals”

1. Which canal helped connect Pittsburgh to the East Coast?

2. The Erie Canal was created to connect what two major bodies of water?

3. Explain why the canals on this map for the most part were connected to the Great Lakes. Answer this from both a logistic perspective and also for practicality.

Wrap-Up

Your homework is on the back of your note guide!

Answer the target now! I can identify improvements made in

transportation in the 1800s and explain how they benefited an expanding America.