Impact of the Erie Canal
How did the canal impact New York farmers?
They were unable to compete they switched to cattle or moved west.
What obstacles did the workers face along the way?
Tress and stumps had to be cleared. Also, many laborers died of malaria and pneumonia while working in the Montezuma swamp west of Syracuse.
What was the Barge Canal?
Was to accomodate large boats
What types of goods were transported on the canal?
Wheat, coal, lumber, iron and salt.
How did New York pay off the debts from building the canal?
You had to pay a toll
What impact did the canal have on New York City?
It became Americas bussiest ports
How were cities along the route impacted?
Syracuse is now Erie Boulevard. The aqueduct in Rochester is the Broad Street bridge; the New York State Thruway follows the path of the canal around Buffalo.
Before the canal, what was travel like?
Before the canal, travel was slow and expensive Manufactured goods were shipped up the Hudson from New York, then carried west by wagon. Farmers were apt to ship their goods south, to Pittsburgh or New Orleans, or north, to Montreal.
What was the celebration like when the canal was finished?
Clinton and other luminaries boarded boats in Buffalo for the journey to Manhattan, cannons were fired along the route to relay news of their departure. The flotilla, led by the Seneca Chief, was met with cheers throughout the 11-day trip. On arrival in New York, the governor poured a keg of water from Lake Erie into the sea, a symbolic "wedding of the waters" depicted in many paintings.
Why do you think DeWitt Clinton's legacy reaches far beyond New York state?
Dewitt Clinton's legacy reached far beyind New York State because it helped the whole country
How much did the canal cost?
It would evenutually exceed $7 million.
How did the canal prove its value from the start?
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.
Why was the canal called "Clinton's Folly?"
The canal was called "Clinton's Folly" becuase after its main advocate, New York Gov. DeWitt Clinton. President Thomas Jefferson scoffed at the suggestion that the federal government finance the project.
What are the measurements of the canal?
The canal was routed across 363 miles, beginning at the Hudson River and ending at Lake Erie in Buffalo. Along the way, it rose 518 feet in elevation, requiring construction of 72 locks. The channel was 40 feet wide at the top, 28 feet wide at the bottom and just 4 feet deep.
Why did some New Yorkers disagree with the building of the Canal?
They beieved it would benefit upstate only.
Why would the building of this canal be difficult?
the barriers to the project seemed insurmountable. Much of western New York was still wilderness and swampland. Technology was primitive; construction would have to be done by hand and by horse.
