Transportation Revolution

1. Transportation RevolutionTransportation Revolution
ShelbyShelby

2. DefinitionDefinition
►Transportation revolution: the period where Transportation revolution: the period where
steam power, railroads, canals, roads, and steam power, railroads, canals, roads, and
bridges emerged as new forms of bridges emerged as new forms of
transportation transportation
►Began in the early 1800s Began in the early 1800s

3. Why did it occur?Why did it occur?
►Development of large-Development of large-
scale industrial scale industrial
production production
►Each of the three Each of the three
economic regions (the economic regions (the
West, the South, and West, the South, and
the North) needed an the North) needed an
affordable yet faster affordable yet faster
means of transporting means of transporting
their goods to another. their goods to another.

4. SteamboatsSteamboats
►1807- Robert Fulton demonstrated 1807- Robert Fulton demonstrated
the feasibility of steam-powered the feasibility of steam-powered
boatsboats
His steamer made the trip on the His steamer made the trip on the
Hudson River from New York to Hudson River from New York to
Albany and back in five days Albany and back in five days
►Although rafts and riverboats Although rafts and riverboats
continued to carry agricultural continued to carry agricultural
products downstream, the products downstream, the
steamboats easily moved against the steamboats easily moved against the
currentcurrent

5. Erie Canal and the Canal FrenzyErie Canal and the Canal Frenzy
►The growing canal system connected major trading and manufacturing The growing canal system connected major trading and manufacturing
centers together. These artificial waterways linked interior areas to centers together. These artificial waterways linked interior areas to
natural waterways, providing a new form transportation.natural waterways, providing a new form transportation.
1825: the Erie Canal, the first major canal project, was completed; 1825: the Erie Canal, the first major canal project, was completed;
spanned 363 miles and connected Buffalo and Albany, New York. The spanned 363 miles and connected Buffalo and Albany, New York. The
success of the Erie Canal initiated a canal-building frenzy in both the East success of the Erie Canal initiated a canal-building frenzy in both the East
and the West. and the West.
1840: the United States had over 3,000 miles of canals. As a result, 1840: the United States had over 3,000 miles of canals. As a result,
shipping costs dropped dramatically shipping costs dropped dramatically
Westerners were now in ample supply of affordable eastern and foreign Westerners were now in ample supply of affordable eastern and foreign
goods in local stores, now that the price of these products no longer goods in local stores, now that the price of these products no longer
burdened by high transport costs.burdened by high transport costs.
►However, canals were expensive to make and not well-maintained. However, canals were expensive to make and not well-maintained.

6. Railroad BoomRailroad Boom
►Late 1830s: as the canal boom Late 1830s: as the canal boom
slowed, the railroad boom kicked into slowed, the railroad boom kicked into
geargear
►1840: about 3,000 miles of track had 1840: about 3,000 miles of track had
been lain in America and investment been lain in America and investment
in railroads had outstripped that in in railroads had outstripped that in
canalscanals
►1860: a network of 30,000 miles 1860: a network of 30,000 miles
linked most of the nation's major cities linked most of the nation's major cities
and townsand towns
►At first, they extended only short At first, they extended only short
distances. Eventually, extension and distances. Eventually, extension and
connection of short lines soon connection of short lines soon
provided uninterrupted transportation provided uninterrupted transportation
over long distances. over long distances.

7. Railroad Boom - BenefitsRailroad Boom - Benefits
►Railroads were faster, cheaper, Railroads were faster, cheaper,
and had greater range than and had greater range than
canals.canals.
Railroads could reach interior Railroads could reach interior
areas, including places where areas, including places where
an insufficient water supply or an insufficient water supply or
rough terrain made canals rough terrain made canals
impossible. impossible.
Unlike canals, which froze in Unlike canals, which froze in
winter or became impassable winter or became impassable
when water was low, railroads when water was low, railroads
ran year-round and they could ran year-round and they could
easily cross hills and mountains. easily cross hills and mountains.

8. ResultsResults
►Led to westward expansionLed to westward expansion
►Increased the population of cities that were Increased the population of cities that were
previously secluded due to location, which previously secluded due to location, which
contributed to the rise of manufacturing and contributed to the rise of manufacturing and
industrialization industrialization
►Helped create a national marketHelped create a national market
►Increased the pace of businessIncreased the pace of business
►Increased job opportunitiesIncreased job opportunities
►Reduced the costs of shipping, making products Reduced the costs of shipping, making products
more accessible and reducing the costmore accessible and reducing the cost

9. SourcesSources
►http://www.fasttrackteaching.com/Charts4_Transportation_Rev.htmlhttp://www.fasttrackteaching.com/Charts4_Transportation_Rev.html
►http://www.answers.com/topic/transportation-http://www.answers.com/topic/transportation-
revolutionrevolution
►http://www.suite101.com/lesson.cfm/18139/1464/http://www.suite101.com/lesson.cfm/18139/1464/
44
►http://www.fasttrackteaching.com/termsgrowing.hhttp://www.fasttrackteaching.com/termsgrowing.h
tmltml
►http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/westhttp://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/west
wardexpansion/section5.rhtmlwardexpansion/section5.rhtml