A Useless Ditch?

Before the Erie Canal was constructed, New York was largely unconnected by water. Goods all had to be transported by land through slow and arduous means. In the early 19th century, America underwent a period of industrialization, which manifested itself through the development of steam engines and interchangeable parts. Now, steam boats could easily be used to transport goods by water. But how could New York utilize this new technology to increase prosperity? Governor deWitt Clinton thought that New York should develop a great canal that would connect the Hudson River with the Great Lakes, thereby also connecting Albany and Buffalo. Though many criticized the project and labeled it as “Clinton’s Ditch”, he persevered and started construction in 1817. After eight long years, the Erie Canal finally opened up in 1825.

The Erie Canal greatly increased America’s ability to engage in interstate commerce. Different trades, including logging, mining, and manufacturing work could exchange products and money beyond their town or city. The geographic barrier of the Appalachian Mountains had made it very difficult for Western settlers to sell their items before, but the Erie Canal resolved that obstacle. Its influence on trade and settlement also helped to facilitate the flow of new ideas. For example, many social reformers shared ideas on abolitionism, women suffrage, and utopianism around the canal’s corridors. Because the Erie Canal was a great economic center and connected many different types of people, it helped to spread new ideas and also became a cultural center. For many middle-class Americans, the Canal also became a way to travel quickly. Instead of travelling in stagecoaches and wagons, individuals could now secure passage on a steamboat and get across New York in half the time.

The Erie Canal also represented the one of the best engineering feats of the time. It included 18 aqueducts, 83 ducts, and a slope of 568 feet. It was 4 feet deep, 40 feet wide, and could float 30 tons of freight. It also had a pathway on the side that would be used for horses and mules, to easily transport goods off the water. This marvel became a central element of our national identity, representing Americans’ ability to work hard and achieve great goals.

Without the Erie Canal, New York would not be the great financial capital we know it to be today. Even though originally, many thought that it was a futile and wasteful project, the Erie Canal has proved itself to be great representation of American economic might. Throughout the years, the Erie Canal has been expanded more and more to help the transportation of more and more bulk goods. The Erie Canal has also inspired the creation of many more branching canal systems across the country, thereby increasing its impact even more. Today, it is able to carry 3000 tons of cargo and stands 14 feet deep and 200 feet wide. Although trains would come to dominate the Second Industrial Revolution and reduce traffic on the Erie Canal, the Erie Canal has an undoubtedly great effect on American commerce and heritage. In 2016, it was named a National Historic Landmark for its great influence, and is often used by recreational boats for excited tourists.

Sources

• https://www.nps.gov/erie/learn/historyculture/index.htm
• http://www.eriecanal.org/
• https://eriecanalway.org/learn/history-culture