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02/06/2021

Why was the Erie Canal important?

Why was the Erie Canal important?

The Erie Canal provided a direct water route from New York City to the Midwest, triggering large-scale commercial and agricultural development—as well as immigration—to the sparsely populated frontiers of western New York, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and points farther west.

What was the impact of the Erie Canal?

The completion of the Erie Canal spurred the first great westward movement of American settlers, gave access to the rich land and resources west of the Appalachians and made New York the preeminent commercial city in the United States.

What impact did the Erie Canal have on New York City quizlet?

The canal proved it’s value from the start becuase the route linked the Atlantic Ocean with the Great Lakes, opening the western part of the state and the Midwest to settlement, creating new markets for goods and bringing unimagined prosperity to New York City.

What did the Erie Canal connect?

The best-known conduit, the Erie Canal, connected the Hudson River to the Great Lakes, linking the West to the port of New York City. The Erie Canal, 363 miles long with 82 locks from Albany on the Hudson to Buffalo on Lake Erie, was built by the state of New York from 1817 to 1825.

Does the Erie Canal freeze?

The Canal was partially drained for five months a year because winter freezes made it unusable. Because it was so shallow, the Canal could freeze very quickly, trapping boats in ice. But the frozen canal also created many opportunities for recreation, such as ice skating at the widewaters or the aqueduct.

Why are canals so dangerous?

Canals contain water that is quickly moving. Fast-moving water in a narrow channel can knock a person off their feet. Even water that is only a foot deep, if it is moving fast enough, would cause you to lose your balance and be carried away. Debris (trash and garbage) and dangerous things can be found in canals.

Did slaves dig the Erie Canal?

Lemmey points out that slavery was not yet abolished in New York during the construction of the Erie Canal, from 1817 to 1825. It ended in the state in 1827. She says that slaves and free blacks living in New York at the time were among those who built the waterway.

Did the Irish build America?

The Irish built America When most Irish people arrived they went straight to work, hired by Irish contractors to build the America we know today. Everything from railroads, streets, canals and sewers were built by the Irish before graduating to mass transit projects and skyscrapers.

Did the Irish built America?

Irish immigrants built America: Across the 18th and 19th centuries, the Irish helped build America, both as a country and as an idea. Through the 20th century, Irish immigrants continued to help America prosper. But over these same decades, America played a significant role still in helping build modern Ireland.

When were the Irish accepted in America?

1840s

Are there black Irish?

The 2006 Irish census recorded 40,525 people of Black African ethnicity and 3,793 people of any other Black background resident in the Republic of Ireland out of a total population of 4,172,013, meaning that 1.06 percent of the population self-identified as Black.

How were the Irish treated in the 1800s?

The Irish often suffered job discrimination. Meanwhile, some businesses took advantage of the Irishmen’s willingness to work for low pay. During much of the 19th century, Irishmen and blacks competed with each other for work. Over time, many Irish were able to get higher-level jobs as policemen, firemen and teachers.

Why are there so many Irish in America?

Pushed out of Ireland by religious conflicts, lack of political autonomy and dire economic conditions, these immigrants, who were often called “Scotch-Irish,” were pulled to America by the promise of land ownership and greater religious freedom. Many Scotch-Irish immigrants were educated, skilled workers.

What struggles did Irish immigrants face?

The refugees seeking haven in America were poor and disease-ridden. They threatened to take jobs away from Americans and strain welfare budgets. They practiced an alien religion and pledged allegiance to a foreign leader. They were bringing with them crime.

How much did Irish immigrants get paid?

They were paid a maximum of $30 a month and often lived in the underground tunnels they were constructing, some of which collapsed onto the workers. (More than 1,000 Chinese workers died in rail-related accidents.) By contrast, Irish workers were paid $35 a month, and were provided with housing.

What is the importance of the Erie Canal What did it connect what impact did it have on trade?

The Erie Canal was then proposed and created as an efficient transportation lane, lowering the cost of shipping and increasing trade, spreading machinery and manufactured goods, making the United States more economically independent and establishing some of the country’s most prominent cities.

How did Erie Canal help the nation grow?

The completion of the Erie Canal spurred the first great westward movement of American settlers, gave access to the rich land and resources west of the Appalachians and made New York the preeminent commercial city in the United States. The effect of the Canal was both immediate and dramatic, and settlers poured west.

What made the Erie Canal so important to the economy of the United States?

The Erie Canal helped to launch the consumer economy. In addition to providing an economic boost by allowing the transport of goods at one-tenth the previous cost in less than half the previous time, the Erie Canal led to a transformation of the American economy as a whole.

How long did it take to complete the Erie Canal?

8 years