Transportation system In The nineteenth Century Essay, Research Paper

During the first half of the nineteenth century, betterments in transit developed instead rapidly. Roads, steamboats, canals, and dragoon all had a positive consequence on the American economic system. They besides provided for a more diverse United States by leting more merchandises to be sold in new countries of the state and by opening new markets. Copied from thoughts begun in England and France, American roads were being built everyplace. In an effort to do money, private investors financed many turnpikes, anticipating to gain from the tolls collected. Although they did non do as much money as expected, these roads made it possible for cheaper ( non cheap ) domestic transit of goods. It still cost more to transport a ton of cargo a few stat mis over land than it did to direct it across the Atlantic Ocean. But because of turnpikes, for the first clip, goods were able to do it over the formidable Appalachian mountains. The steamboat was the first economical agencies of inland conveyance. It was faster and cheaper so the tonss used before them. Additionally, the steamboats made it possible to go back up the Mississippi, leting husbandmans and lumberjacks to come down by raft, and travel place in the epicurean comfort of a steamboat after selling their goods. This besides made the northwest less self-dependent because it was now able to buy southern goods. While steamboats sparked the economic system on the western frontier, canals became progressively popular on the east seashore. Although expensive ( $ 25,000 per stat mi ) , and hard to construct, canals were an of import beginning for those husbandmans and merchandisers who needed a inexpensive method of inland transit. The H2O allowed Equus caballuss, one time merely able to draw a ton of stuffs, to now pul

l over a hundred tons with the same amount of work. These canals were not only economical for exporters, but also for the state. Tolls alone collected from the Erie Canal had, by 1825, already paid for the entire project ($7,000,000), and now was making a substantial amount of profit. Even though it had not totally expanded yet, the cheapest, most economical method of transportation was the railroad. Speed, durability, and safety all contributed to the success of it. State legislatures and the national government all provided aid to the railroad companies by decreased the tax on rail iron. During this time period, manufacturing also boomed. New ideas and inventions made it faster to produce products. However, it is because of these new modes of transportation that this was ever able to occur. The cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney, would never have been able to develop fully if the transportation system did not make it easy to obtain cotton from the south. With these new technological breakthroughs, American economic growth was significantly increased. By allowing cheaper importation and exportation of goods, manufacturers were able to produce more of these products. Also, it opened new markets to different places. In the northwest, where coffee was an expensive luxury (costing almost seventeen cents per pound), it was now a common item. The steamboat reduced the price by over thirteen cents. Also, our new transportation system helped other regions work together. And aside from material items, our country benefited economically from tourism. Any tourist to the New York area would not miss “The Great Western Canal.” So although manufacturing did have a significant role in developing the American economy, it is because of transportation that manufacturing could have ever improved.