It was built to create a navigable water route from New York City and the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes , originally stretching for 363 miles (584 km) from the Hudson River in Albany to Lake Erie in Buffalo.
Why was the Erie Canal most likely built?
Why was the Erie Canal MOST LIKELY built? The Erie Canal is located in New York State, and connects the Hudson River to Lake Erie. It was built to help people travel over the Allegheny Mountains . Transporting goods, such as grains, by river barge over the canal was less expensive than transporting it over land.
Why was the Erie Canal built and what effect did it have on New York?
The completion of the Erie Canal spurred the first great westward movement of American settlers , gave access to the rich land and resources west of the Appalachians and made New York the preeminent commercial city in the United States.
Why was the Erie Canal built quizlet?
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What were the reasons for building the Erie Canal? ... The canal, considered a marvel of the modern world at the time, allowed western farmers to ship surplus crops to sell in the North and allowed northern manufacturers to ship finished goods to sell in the West .
Is Erie Canal still in use today?
Erie Canal Today
Portions of the original canal are still operable , though tourism is now the main source of boat traffic along the Erie Canal. Commercial and shipping traffic declined abruptly after the completion of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959.
Does Erie Canal still exist?
Nearly 200 years old and still going strong. New York’s canal system has been in continuous operation since 1825 , longer than any other constructed transportation system on the North American continent.
What was the nickname of the Erie Canal?
Clinton’s Ditch – Nickname for the original Erie Canal, which opened in 1825.
How did the Erie Canal help the economy?
The Erie Canal helped to launch the consumer economy.
In addition to providing an economic boost by allowing the transport of goods at one-tenth the previous cost in less than half the previous time, the Erie Canal led to a transformation of the American economy as a whole.
How many Irish died building the Erie Canal?
While there are no official records of immigrant deaths, somewhere between 8,000 and 30,000 are believed to have perished in the building of the New Basin Canal, many of whom are buried in unmarked graves in the levee and roadway fill beside the canal.
Who built the Erie Canal?
| Erie Canal | Original owner New York State | Principal engineer Benjamin Wright | Other engineer(s) Canvass White, Amos Eaton | Construction began July 4, 1817 (at Rome, New York) |
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What was the goal of the Erie Canal?
A major goal was to link Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes with the Atlantic Coast through a canal . The Erie Canal, completed on October 25, 1825 improved transportation and helped populate the interior of the U.S.
Who paid for the Erie Canal?
Clinton was elected Governor later that year, just before construction of the Erie Canal started at Rome on July 4, 1817. Thereafter, construction and operation of the Erie Canal was authorized, funded, and managed by New York State .
How deep is the Erie Canal today?
| JUST THE FACTS | Canal dimensions, 1862 Enlarged Erie 7 ft deep x 70 ft wide; lock 110 ft long | Canal dimensions, 1918- present Erie Barge Canal 12-23 ft deep x 120-200 ft wide; locks 310 ft long | Cost to build $7,143,789 | Return on Investment 10 years |
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Is the Erie Canal man made?
The Erie Canal is a manmade waterway that joins the Great Lakes with the Hudson River. Construction of the original canal started on July 4, 1817, in Rome, New York, and was completed on October 26, 1825. ... The men completed a canal that was 40 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and stretched hundreds of miles.
Does the Erie Canal freeze?
The Canal was partially drained for five months a year because winter freezes made it unusable . Because it was so shallow, the Canal could freeze very quickly, trapping boats in ice. But the frozen canal also created many opportunities for recreation, such as ice skating at the widewaters or the aqueduct.
How long did it take to dig the Erie Canal?
After more than two years of digging, the 425-mile Erie Canal was opened on October 26, 1825, by Governor Clinton. The effect of the canal was immediate and dramatic. Settlers poured into western New York, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin.
