The development of transportation in America brought positive social and economic changes through the price decrease in basic goods and the creation of strong ties between all large cities. With the invention of roads, canals, and railroads, the general prices of merchandise became cheaper. Goods were able to be shipped faster and in greater quantities; the time and cost that was associated with their shipping diminished greatly. Canals created a major improvement in shipping, developing rapidly and successfully, to create shortcuts to the desired destination. This progression served to spur the economy throughout the country, as evidenced in the text, “In a little more than a decade, canals joined together all of the major lakes and rivers
