“We are great, and rapidly—I was about to say fearfully—growing. This is our distinguishing characteristic and our peculiar danger. . . . Let us, then, bind the Republic together with a perfect system of roads and canals. Let us conquer space. It is thus the most distant parts of the republic will be brought within a systematic system of interactions . . . and thus will be prevented that separation of interests, which, if it once begins, must end in a total separation of the Union.”
—Representative John C. Calhoun, speech to Congress, 1817
Which of the following developments in the first half of the nineteenth century most directly contributed to the realization of the goals described in the excerpt?
- AThe growth of self-sufficient household manufacturing that reduced reliance on regional trade networks.
- The expansion of canal networks and steamboat transport that linked western agricultural production with eastern markets.Answer
- CThe Supreme Court's consistent efforts to restrict the federal government's authority to regulate interstate commerce.
- DThe revival of colonial mercantilist policies to restrict trade to domestic manufacturers.
Answer
The expansion of canal networks and steamboat transport that linked western agricultural production with eastern markets.
The correct option is correct because the transportation revolution, characterized by the construction of canals (such as the Erie Canal) and the introduction of steamboats, dramatically lowered transportation costs and times. This facilitated a national market where agricultural goods from the West could be exchanged efficiently for manufactured goods from the East, fulfilling the goal of binding the different regions of the country together.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The Transportation Revolution and Market Integration
Estimated Time:1m 0s