How Trasnportation Changed The U.S.

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How Transportation Changed the U.S.

The advent of transportation in the late 1800’s helped America progress as an industrialized nation. Not only had it helped the country with transportation, it had helped the country economically. Many forms of transportation had grown to different levels. Many of these forms included railroads, roads and canals.
Canal routes built for commerce developed slowly in eastern Pennsylvania, and it was not until after the American Revolution that some thought was given to open the upper river regions to transportation canals. During this time the young country was growing into a powerful political and economic center, and until 1825 was growing to be one of the largest in on the western hemisphere. Transport of goods to markets there was critical to the development of the region's economy. Navigation was possible on the Delaware River as far north as Morrisville.
The canals were most active during the 1830s to the 1860s. Use of canals slowly declined because of railroads, and portions were in operation until 1942. It was America's last and longest-operated use of transportation. The Delaware Canal ceased operation during the Great Depression and is today significant as the most intact, accessible, and watered canal in the nation. One hundred and sixty years later, much of the stonework of the canal's retaining walls and locks is still visible and the canal is capable of being fully watered.
The first forms of road transport were horses or oxen carrying goods over dirt tracks that often followed game trails. As time went by the roads changed from dirt to gravel - courtesy of the farmers. Horseback, horse and buggy, and horse and wagon were the ways to get around in the early days.
Our economic growth and lifestyles are directly linked to transportation achievements over the last century as country’s transportation system has gone from mud to macadam and beyond. As the country's economy changed...