The American Vision

Chapter 7: Growth and Division, 1816–1832

Web Lesson Plans

Introduction
Students have read about the development of canals during the early 1800s. In this activity students will explore the early history of the Erie Canal and discover the impact it had on commerce and western expansion.

Lesson Description
Students will use information from the New York State Canal System Web site to learn about the early history of the Erie Canal. Students will read about the construction of the canal and its impact on regional commerce and western expansion. Students will then answer four questions and apply this information by designing a newspaper advertisement for a shipping service along the Erie Canal.

Instructional Objectives
  1. Students will analyze the economic and social impacts of canals during the early 1800s.
  2. Students will be able to use this knowledge to design a newspaper advertisement for a shipping service along the Erie Canal.
Student Web Activity Answers
  1. The initial obstacle to the construction of the Erie Canal was lack of public support. Once construction began, workers had to build roads to bring in supplies while simultaneously constructing the canal. The path for the canal ran through the wilderness of New York State, and almost all of the 363 miles of the canal were built exclusively by the strength of men and horses.
  2. The economic impact of the canal was almost immediate: trade exploded, the cost of transporting goods dropped, cities grew along the trade routes established by the Erie Canal, and New York City became the nation's busiest port.
  3. The canal connected the western frontier to the eastern seaboard. Traveling west by canal was much more economical and easier than traveling overland. The availability of goods and supplies made frontier life more attractive and accessible for many settlers. In addition, the Erie Canal was a convenient form of travel for immigrants arriving at New York City harbor and heading west.
  4. The Northwest frontier offered timber, minerals, and grain to the communities of the eastern seaboard.
  5. Students' advertisements will vary.
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