Transportation, Communications, and Technology Objectives: Understand how transportation and communication affected industry Understand how transportation promoted sectionalism Do Now: Pg. 292 #9 Homework: Finish reading chapter, finish packet and read notes online.

The Canal Age 1790-1820s “turnpike era” roads not adequate for nation’s growing needs Traffic on large rivers such as Miss. and Ohio had been mainly flat barges that could not travel upstream, by 1820s steamboats and riverboats carried western and southern crops quickly, from New Orleans ocean ships to Eastern ports Farmers and merchants unhappy because more direct route could lower transport costs and product costs. By 1820s economic advantages of canals had generated boom in expanding water routes to West. Too expensive for private companies, states of Northeast constructed them

Erie Canal NY’s Erie Canal began July 4, 1817 to connect Hudson R and Lake Erie. Opened 1825, tolls repaid construction costs, gave NY access to Great Lakes, Chicago, growing Western markets. NY now competed with New Orleans Water transport system expanded when Ohio + Indiana connected Lake Erie & Ohio R. Increased white settlement, but primacy of NY power + hinterland control alarmed other Atlantic cities.

What form of transportation ultimately displaced canals?

The Early Railroads Railroads played secondary role in 1820s/30s, but laid groundwork for mid-century surge. Emerged form technological (tracks, steam-powered locomotive) and entrepreneurial innovations In 1830s no real rail system, most lines simply connected water routes and not links to other rail systems. Some states and corporations also limited their ability to compete effectively against canals

The Triumph of the Rails After 1840 rail gradually supplanted canals. 1850’s amount of rails tripled. Most comprehensive and efficient system in northeast, but no region untouched Trend toward consolidation of short lines into longer lines (“trunk lines”), connected Northeast w/ Northwest, from these other railroads traveled into interior of nation. Main Northwest hub was Chicago

How did the growth of railroads in the north contribute to the South’s growing sense of insecurity within the Union?

Effect of Railroads on the Nation Lessened dependence of West on Miss. R, weakening North and South economic connection. Capital to finance railroads came from private investors, abroad, and local governments. Southern States did not have the money to finance railroads Fed government gave public land grants to railroads and states for RRs

Innovations in Communications Magnetic telegraph lines along tracks aided train routing, but also allowed instant communication between cities, linked North and Northwest at exclusion of South 1844 Samuel Morse first transmitted. Low cost of construction made it ideal solution to long-distance communication. By 1860 Western Union Telegraph company had been founded linking most independent telegraph lines In journalism Richard Hoe’s 1846 steam cylinder rotary press allowed rapid and cheap newspapers, telegraph increased news speed. 1846 Associated Press formed to promote cooperate wire transmission NY’s major papers Horace Greeley’s Tribune, James Bennett’s Herald, Henry Raymond’s Times. In 1840s/50s journalism fed sectional discord, most major magazines and newspapers located in North. New awareness of differences