“New Forms Of Transportation” Chapter 12 section 2

A Revolution In Transportation  Americans experienced a revolution in transportation as well as in industry.  In 1806, work began on the National Road to link the new western states to the rest of the country.  New forms of transportation also helped to link the nation together.

The Steamboat  In 1807, Robert Fulton built a steamboat, called the Clermont, that could travel upstream.  River travel was revolutionized by Fulton. Fulton connected a steam engine to two huge paddle wheels mounted on a raft. Fulton tested it on The Hudson River and people showed up to watch. It chugged 5mph (8 km) upstream.  It was also called Fulton’s Folly.  By the 1820’s smoke-belching steamboats were hauling passengers and freight up and down eastern and western rivers and across Great Lakes.

The Erie Canal  In 1817, the New York governor, Dewitt Clinton, convinced the state legislature to provide funds to dig a canal 40 feet(12m) wide to link the Hudson River and Lake Erie. It would cut through about 360 miles(580 km) of wilderness.  In 1825, the Erie Canal was completed. The Erie Canal created an all water route linking New York City to the Great Lakes.  The success of the Erie canal triggered canal building all across the country.

The Steam Engine  In 1830, the railroad era began when Peter Cooper created “Tom Thumb”, a railroad steam engine.  The “Tom Thumb” reached the amazing speed of 18 mph (29 km), three times faster than the top speed of a horse drawn train.