The Erie Canal
When did construction of the Erie Canal begin? When did construction of the Erie Canal end?
Began in 1817, Ended in 1825
Who heavily supported the construction of the Erie Canal? What nicknames did the proposed Erie Canal receive because of him?
Dewitt Clinton; The Erie Canal received nicknames such as "Big Ditch" and "Clinton's Folly" because of Clinton.
What did President Thomas Jefferson think of the proposed Erie Canal?
He thought it was "little short of madness"
What bodies of water were connected together by the Erie Canal?
Hudson River and the Great Lakes
Who, mostly, worked on the Erie Canal?
Irish immigrants
Why is the Erie Canal important?
It gave New York City new people, and the city gave the people job opportunities.
How did the Erie Canal change immigration/migration within the United States?
The Erie Canal reduced the travel time from the Hudson River to the Great Lakes by one half and provided travelers a welcome alternative to the rutted, muddy road of the stage coach. Passengers traveled on packet boats pulled by a team of horses or mules at a leisurely pace equivalent to that of a fast walk.
What is the Erie Canal?
a canal that created a waterway in New York between Albany and Buffalo connecting the Hudson River with Lake Erie