Admin Table of Contents
Why was the opening of the Erie Canal so important?
The completion in 1825 of the Erie Canal (below), connecting Lake Erie with the Hudson River, was an event of major importance in Michigan history because it greatly facilitated the transportation of passengers and freight between the eastern seaboard and Michigan ports.
What did the opening of the Erie Canal do for America?
The completion of the Erie Canal spurred the first great westward movement of American settlers, gave access to the rich land and resources west of the Appalachians and made New York the preeminent commercial city in the United States. The effect of the Canal was both immediate and dramatic, and settlers poured west.
What is significant about the Erie Canal?
Built between 1817 and 1825, the original Erie Canal traversed 363 miles from Albany to Buffalo. It was the longest artificial waterway and the greatest public works project in North America. The canal put New York on the map as the Empire State—the leader in population, industry, and economic strength.
Why was the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 important to the development of the United States?
How did the Erie Canal benefit farmers?
The Erie Canal helped to launch the consumer economy. Farmers could grow wheat in western New York, sell it and have cash to buy furniture and clothing shipped up the canal that they otherwise would have made at home,” Kelly says. “That was the first inklings of the consumer economy.”
What was the nickname of the Erie Canal?
Clinton’s Ditch
Clinton’s Ditch – Nickname for the original Erie Canal, which opened in 1825.
What are three important number facts about the Erie Canal?
Fast Facts
| JUST THE FACTS | |
|---|---|
| Number of locks, 1825 | 83 |
| Number of locks, present day | 57 |
| Elevation change, Albany to Buffalo | 571 feet |
| Canal dimensions, 1825 Original Erie | 4 ft deep x 40 ft wide; locks 90 ft long |
What problem did the Erie Canal solve?
The Erie Canal helped to launch the consumer economy. In addition to providing an economic boost by allowing the transport of goods at one-tenth the previous cost in less than half the previous time, the Erie Canal led to a transformation of the American economy as a whole.
Who proposed the construction of the Erie Canal?
The construction of the Erie Canal came about for political as well as economic reasons. DeWitt Clinton, who in 1815 pushed the idea (first proposed by Gouverneur Morris in 1800) of a waterway to link the Hudson River and Lake Erie, wanted to revive his political career.
What was the purpose of the Erie Canal?
The Erie Canal was built between Albany and Buffalo, New York, in an effort to create easy transportation between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River. The waterway was needed to allow for trade and transport between settlements in the Midwest and the East Coast.
What cities are on the Erie Canal?
Nearly every major city in New York can be found along the trade route established by the Erie Canal: it links Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Albany with New York City.
How old is the Erie Canal?
The Erie Canal is a canal in New York State. It runs for 365 miles from the Hudson River to Lake Erie. It connects the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. The State authorized it in 1808, and it was built between 1818 and 1825.