How Did The Erie Canal Affect The Economy

The Erie Canal was known as the gateway to the West. It was wildly popular; people came from near and far to travel along its 363 mile long route. The canal had a major impact on the nation’s economy in the 1800s. Towns emerged in the area and businesses blossomed. It was a huge success and many people began to rely on it. The Erie Canal increased the nation’s economy, brought people together, and promoted nationalism through trade and expansion.
The Erie Canal joined people and product together. It connected the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean, stretching from Albany to Buffalo. It was quick and easy to travel farther along the Erie Canal, joining not only people, but stories and song together. Before the Erie Canal, people could only travel on poorly made dirt roads, which took a very long time. Therefore, when the canal was built, people took the opportunity to journey across the United States. It opened up a gateway for settlers to join with family or travel to other sides of the country. Ideas, stories, songs, and goods were passed down through the Erie Canal; the nation was uniting. The canal proved to be a vital route in bringing people together and unifying the nation as a whole. …show more content…
The canal had opened up the first waterway to stretch from the West into the East. It opened up a path for goods to travel into the West and for agricultural products reach the East. People had easier access to travel and could easily trade on the canal. This allowed self sufficient citizens who made their own goods to be able to trade for or buy pre-made products from canal merchants. Since so many people were now trading much more, the price of goods decreased. Trade became a big part of the 1800. It helped to connect different parts of the U.S together and bring products and ideas from one side of the country to another. Trading on the Erie Canal had a big effect on the nation’s