1. transportation

2. Clay’s American System
Monroe’s ideas, plan named by Clay (1815)
Wanted to unite regions of US to create a stable economy and promote self-sufficiency
HOW?
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS/INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS
PROTECTIVE TARIFF
NATIONAL BANK RECHARTERED (expired during War of )

3. THE AMERICAN SYSTEM
Henry Clay believed that the Federal Government should raise tariffs to pay for new infrastructures, such as roads and canals.
The Monkey System or Every One For Himself Henry Clay says "Walk in and see the new improved grand original American System!" The cages are labeled: "Home, Consumption, Internal, Improv". This 1831 cartoon ridiculing Clay's American System depicts monkeys, labeled as being different parts of a nation's economy, stealing each other's resources (food) with commentators describing it as either great or a humbug.

4. NATIONAL ROAD Began construction in 1811
By 1838 – went from Maryland to Illinois
Main transport west for thousands of settlers
Nicknamed “Main Street of America”

7. ERIE CANAL NOTE: CANALS WERE BUILT TO CONNECT WATERWAYS IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM NAVIGABLE FOR TRADE
1825
363 MILES – LINKED THE HUDSON RIVER TO LAKE ERIE (ATLANTIC OCEAN TO GREAT LAKES)
MADE NEW YORK CITY THE DOMINANT PORT IN THE NATION
IT WAS THE FIRST MAJOR CANAL
GREATLY REDUCED SHIPPING COSTS (FELL FROM 19 CENTS A TON TO LESS THAN 2 CENTS A TON)
OPENED UP THE HEARTLAND TO WORLD MARKETS AND CONNECTED THE NORTHEAST TO THE MIDWEST

10. Erie Canal

11. THE ERIE CANAL
PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE GROWTH OF NEW YORK CITY AS A MAJOR ECONOMIC CENTER

12. FULTON’S STEAMBOAT 1807 Clermont
made it possible for ships to go upstream against the current
Important for carrying heavy machinery and raw materials – much easier to transport heavy items by water
By 1830, 200 steamboats on western rivers – slash freight rates and voyage times

14. RAILROADS 1825 first steam locomotive in US
RR fast, able to cross almost any terrain, operate in severe weather
1840s – shipping by rail cost more than by canal
Pulled freight at 10 mph, over 4 times as fast as canals
Not very safe for travel at first, improved
Costs came down
1850 – 10,000 miles of track
1859 – carry 2 billion tons of freight per year