1. ERIE CANAL

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

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

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

5. 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.

6. ERIE CANAL

7. 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.

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

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