Transportation in the 1800’s
People sometimes wonder when the world started to change to get to where we are today. During the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, major changes took place in the lives and work of people. These changes resulted in the Industrial Revolution. The growth of the Industrial Revolution depended on the ability to transport raw materials and goods over long distances. Transportation played a huge role in the Industrial Revolution. During the Industrial Revolution, transportation improved with the advancement and invention of roads, canals, steamboats, and railroads.
One improvement made in the Industrial Revolution was the advancement of roads. In 1817, “Congress authorized the construction of the National Road which …show more content…
On April 1808, “New York authorized the construction of the Erie Canal which was 363 miles long connecting Albany on the Hudson River with Buffalo, New York” (“Transportation Revolution”). By building canals, man-made waterways, inland transportation was inexpensive and easier. “Not only were foods able to be transported faster, but the cost went down from $100/ton to less than $8/ton” (“Transportation Revolution”). This shows that transportation also changed people’s welfare. The Erie Canal led to growth in agriculture. Given these facts, canals resolved the problem of moving heavy objects over large …show more content…
In 1826, “A group of businessmen launched the first American railway, named the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) in Maryland” (Transcontinental Railway). This outbreak of news got people very excited. “Many problems emerged; the expensive cost, accidents, and different trains required different widths of track” (Transcontinental Railway). Therefore these trains could not travel long distances. In 1830, “Robert Livingston Stevens solved this problem by designing an iron T-shaped rail” (Transcontinental Railway). This way, the rail allowed trains to switch to a different track without stopping. Due to this, shipping cost greatly decreased and industry expanded. Also, the railroad increased safety and decreased the dangers of transporting minerals in coal mines. Railroads eventually became the nation’s number one transportation system, and remained so until the construction of the interstate highway system halfway during the twentieth century.
Transportation during the Industrial Revolution improved with the advancements and invention of roads, canals, steamboats, and railroads. The Industrial Revolution was a time where great changes took place in people's lives and work. The population went from being agricultural to industrial. Transporting raw material and goods was an important part in the Industrial Revolution. Changes in industry and new technology resulted in an increased production
People sometimes wonder when the world started to change to get to where we are today. During the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, major changes took place in the lives and work of people. These changes resulted in the Industrial Revolution. The growth of the Industrial Revolution depended on the ability to transport raw materials and goods over long distances. Transportation played a huge role in the Industrial Revolution. During the Industrial Revolution, transportation improved with the advancement and invention of roads, canals, steamboats, and railroads.
One improvement made in the Industrial Revolution was the advancement of roads. In 1817, “Congress authorized the construction of the National Road which …show more content…
On April 1808, “New York authorized the construction of the Erie Canal which was 363 miles long connecting Albany on the Hudson River with Buffalo, New York” (“Transportation Revolution”). By building canals, man-made waterways, inland transportation was inexpensive and easier. “Not only were foods able to be transported faster, but the cost went down from $100/ton to less than $8/ton” (“Transportation Revolution”). This shows that transportation also changed people’s welfare. The Erie Canal led to growth in agriculture. Given these facts, canals resolved the problem of moving heavy objects over large …show more content…
In 1826, “A group of businessmen launched the first American railway, named the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) in Maryland” (Transcontinental Railway). This outbreak of news got people very excited. “Many problems emerged; the expensive cost, accidents, and different trains required different widths of track” (Transcontinental Railway). Therefore these trains could not travel long distances. In 1830, “Robert Livingston Stevens solved this problem by designing an iron T-shaped rail” (Transcontinental Railway). This way, the rail allowed trains to switch to a different track without stopping. Due to this, shipping cost greatly decreased and industry expanded. Also, the railroad increased safety and decreased the dangers of transporting minerals in coal mines. Railroads eventually became the nation’s number one transportation system, and remained so until the construction of the interstate highway system halfway during the twentieth century.
Transportation during the Industrial Revolution improved with the advancements and invention of roads, canals, steamboats, and railroads. The Industrial Revolution was a time where great changes took place in people's lives and work. The population went from being agricultural to industrial. Transporting raw material and goods was an important part in the Industrial Revolution. Changes in industry and new technology resulted in an increased production