The Erie Canal: Connecting America

What natural barrier made it difficult for early 19th-century merchants to access America's interior?

• The Appalachian Mountains

• The Mississippi River

• The Grand Canyon

• The Rocky Mountains

Which city's leaders wanted to create a canal to divert river traffic from New Orleans?

• Boston

• Philadelphia

• New York City

• Chicago

What was the primary purpose of the Erie Canal?

• To connect the Hudson River to Lake Erie

• To irrigate farmland

• To provide a direct route to the Pacific Ocean

• To facilitate trade with Canada

Who was the key advocate for the construction of the Erie Canal?

• Benjamin Franklin

• Thomas Jefferson

• Alexander Hamilton

• DeWitt Clinton

How did the Erie Canal impact the cost of transportation?

• It doubled the cost

• It had no impact on costs

• It reduced the cost by half

• It reduced the cost significantly

What was the Erie Canal's completion year?

• 1830

• 1825

• 1820

• 1835

What mode of transportation led to the decline of canals?

• Bicycles

• Railroads

• Airplanes

• Automobiles

Why did other American cities start building their own canals?

• To compete with the Erie Canal

• Because of government incentives

• To improve local irrigation

• Inspired by the Erie Canal's success