ERIE CANAL

History Proposed in 1808, completed in 1825. Connected Lake Erie in the West to the Hudson River in the East.

ERIE CANAL - Dewitt Clinton connects New York City to Lake Erie

ERIE CANAL Locks – separated compartments raise (lower) water levels

ERIE CANAL Mules pulled barges astonishingly fast since steamboats were too big and would damage the earthen embankments with their engines. 2 horses could pull up to 24 miles in a day, much faster than a wagon. Later, in the 1840’s the canals were reinforced to handle tugboats with bigger shipments.

ERIE CANAL

ERIE CANAL Improved Trade Importance!!!! Improved Trade Goods move faster (water vs. roads) = cheaper Connects ports Carry more goods It reduced the cost of moving a ton of flour from Buffalo to New York from $120 to $6.

ERIE CANAL 2) Creates new big cities in new places! -Cities like Schenectady and Syracuse grow along new trade routes

ERIE CANAL 3) Unites the Country!! (West to East) - People move faster! - News moves faster !

http://www.eriecanal.org/tour-eastcentral.html