Moving West
1. In 1790, a census revealed that the United States had a population of almost 4 million people.
2. 30 years later, we discovered that the population had more than doubled to nearly 10 million people.
3. Although the trip from New York City to Buffalo was difficult and dangerous, about 2 million people were living west of the Appalachians in the 1820s.
Roads and Turnpikes
1. To help pay for the construction of inland roads needed for shipping, companies built turnpikes to help bring in money.
2. When Ohio joined the Union, a National Road was decided to be made as a military necessity.
3. Construction stopped because of the War of 1812, and the National Road did not open until 1818.
River Travel
1. Although river travel was more comfortable and much easier, most rivers flowed from north-south. Unfortunately, most people/goods needed to travel east-west and traveling upstream was also very difficult.
2. Steam engines were first attempted to be made by both James Rumsey and John Fitch, both who failed in making it strong enough to withstand the current and winds of the water.
3. Robert Fulton finally created a steamboat with a powerful engine, making it much easier and faster to transport people/goods.
2. 30 years later, we discovered that the population had more than doubled to nearly 10 million people.
3. Although the trip from New York City to Buffalo was difficult and dangerous, about 2 million people were living west of the Appalachians in the 1820s.
Roads and Turnpikes
1. To help pay for the construction of inland roads needed for shipping, companies built turnpikes to help bring in money.
2. When Ohio joined the Union, a National Road was decided to be made as a military necessity.
3. Construction stopped because of the War of 1812, and the National Road did not open until 1818.
River Travel
1. Although river travel was more comfortable and much easier, most rivers flowed from north-south. Unfortunately, most people/goods needed to travel east-west and traveling upstream was also very difficult.
2. Steam engines were first attempted to be made by both James Rumsey and John Fitch, both who failed in making it strong enough to withstand the current and winds of the water.
3. Robert Fulton finally created a steamboat with a powerful engine, making it much easier and faster to transport people/goods.
Canals
1. Because steamboats depended on the existing river system, they could not transport people/goods east-west.
2. A canal was created, connecting the Hudson River to the Great Lakes.
3. De Witt Clinton came up with this idea.
Building the Erie Canal
1. The Erie Canal was built using a series of locks, and the 363-mile waterwar was finished on October 26, 1825.
2. Because steamboats had powerful engines, they were not allowed in the Erie Canal, and instead, people used animals to drag barges and boats through the water, proving to be much faster than travel by wagon.
3. By 1850, the U.S. had more than 3,600 canals, helping to unite the growing country.
2. A canal was created, connecting the Hudson River to the Great Lakes.
3. De Witt Clinton came up with this idea.
Building the Erie Canal
1. The Erie Canal was built using a series of locks, and the 363-mile waterwar was finished on October 26, 1825.
2. Because steamboats had powerful engines, they were not allowed in the Erie Canal, and instead, people used animals to drag barges and boats through the water, proving to be much faster than travel by wagon.
3. By 1850, the U.S. had more than 3,600 canals, helping to unite the growing country.
Western Settlement
1. Huge waves of Americans moved westward across the Appalachian Mountains from the 1790s to the 1820s.
2. People usually either settled near rivers and canals or in their home communities.
3. Although life in the West was not as comfortable as in the East, many pioneers moved westward to make a new life for themselves and their families.
2. People usually either settled near rivers and canals or in their home communities.
3. Although life in the West was not as comfortable as in the East, many pioneers moved westward to make a new life for themselves and their families.