"The great Canal, which connects the western lakes with the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean, has opened a new era. The agricultural products of the West are now brought to the markets of the East at a fraction of the former cost, while the manufactured goods of our eastern cities are easily transported to the interior."
— Adapted from a New York newspaper article, 1825
Which of the following developments in the United States between 1800 and 1848 was a direct result of the transportation innovation described in the excerpt?
- The creation of closer economic ties and trade networks between the Northeast and the Midwest.Answer
- BA return to self-sufficient household production as families manufactured their own goods.
- CThe rapid growth of industrial textile manufacturing across the deep South.
- DThe complete cessation of political debates over the federal funding of internal improvements.
Answer
The creation of closer economic ties and trade networks between the Northeast and the Midwest.
The correct option is correct because the Erie Canal directly connected the Great Lakes region (Midwest) with the Hudson River and New York City (Northeast), facilitating a flow of western agricultural goods to eastern cities and eastern manufactured goods to western settlers, which built strong regional trade networks.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The Market Revolution and the development of national transportation networks that linked regional economies.