Development in Transportation

The development in transportation brings about a great change in both economic and social in the United States around 1820-1860. During this time, unpaved roads were developed. They were nothing but a dirty and dusty road that usually led to a dead end. It was the symbol of backwardness when poverty in the mountains of Appalachian was the target of a "war". The Cumberland Road, also known as the National Road began constructing in 1811. It was constructed to head west. The National Road was the first major improved highway in the United States. It was built by the federal government. The National road provides a connection between the Potomac and the Ohio Rivers. It was the gateway to west for thousands of settlers. The Railroad also came about around 1830. The most accounts railroad in this country kicked off in 1829 when the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company a British-built steam locomotive. Soon after, railroad started popping up all over the cities and down the east coast. By 1830s railroads were here to stay and would soon begin to sprawl westward.

Around this time, canals and rivers are starting to pop up around the United States. One of the canals that were developed was the Erie Canal. In order to open part of the west of the Appalachian Mountains to settlers and to open a cheap and safe way to carried product to the market, the plan to start a Canal started as early as 1768. It was not until 1808 that the state legislature funded a survey for a canal that would connect to Lake Erie. The construction of the Erie Canal broke ground in 1817. The finish of the canal in 1825 brought much praised. It was the engineering marvel of its days. The Erie Canal links the water of Lake Erie in the west to the Hudson River in the east. Some people called the Erie Canal, the Eighth Wonder of The World.

Many ships and boats are being developed as well. One of the earliest boats that were developed was the Fulton's Steamboat that would ply the Hudson River. During the 1840-1850, the clipper ship also came out a result of growing demand for a more rapid delivery of tea from china.

The Transportation Era has made a huge different on American Socially and economically. Economically, the transportation revolution shaped the way American traveled. It created numerous job and allowed people to move around for different job easier. They also created a faster and cheaper way for people to transferred goods and products back and forth. Socially, the transportation revolution expanded slavery in the South. The cotton gin made it possible to process cotton far faster than before, which made it worthwhile to plant more cotton fields, which in turn led to the expansion of slavery in the South as landowners needed more "bodies" to work their fields. Also, the Gold Rush migration also started. The California gold rush began on January 24, 1828 with the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill. Once news of the discovery spread