Overview
This lecture covers the Transportation Revolution during the U.S. Industrial Revolution, emphasizing the shift from traditional to steam-powered transportation and its impact on commerce and society.
Traditional Transportation Methods
- Before industrialization, transportation relied on human, animal, wind, and water power.
- Goods and people moved slowly and in limited quantities using these methods.
Introduction of Steam Power
- The steam engine replaced natural power sources, first in steamships and later in trains.
- Steam-powered transportation increased speed and capacity for moving goods and people.
New Inventions and Infrastructure
- Railroads and steamships were major 19th-century innovations.
- The landscape changed to accommodate these inventions, including new roads, canals, and railroads.
- The Cumberland Road was the only federally funded national highway, connecting Maryland to Illinois.
- Turnpikes, or privately owned toll roads, were built to generate profit.
Canal Construction and Impact
- Canals are man-made rivers built to allow steamships to travel inland.
- The Erie Canal in New York was the most significant, connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes and opening the interior to commerce.
- Canals initially transformed transportation but were eventually eclipsed by railroads.
Railroads and Their Dominance
- Railroads were more efficient and cost-effective than canals or roads.
- The Mohawk and Hudson Railroad Company launched the first U.S. rail service in 1831.
- By 1860, the U.S. had the most railroad track in the world, making rapid transport possible nationwide.
- Railroads made travel faster (e.g., Boston to Rhode Island in half a day instead of four days).
The American System
- "American System" refers to internal improvements like transportation networks, protective tariffs, and the Second Bank of the U.S.
- Aimed to foster domestic economic growth and reduce reliance on Europe.
Social and Economic Effects
- Faster, long-distance transportation made goods more widely available.
- Isolated communities became connected and integrated into broader American culture, especially in the North.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Industrial Revolution — A period marked by the transition from hand production to machine-based manufacturing.
- Steam Engine — A machine that uses steam to generate power for transportation.
- Turnpike — A privately owned road that charges a toll for use.
- Canal — A man-made waterway for transportation.
- Erie Canal — A major canal connecting the Atlantic Ocean, via the Hudson River, to the Great Lakes.
- American System — A set of policies promoting internal improvements, tariffs, and banking to strengthen the U.S. economy.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the Erie Canal and Cumberland Road for details on early American infrastructure.
- Be familiar with the definition and significance of the "American System."
- Read the next section on regional differences in transformation, especially between the North and South.