The Erie Canal

The details of the construction and the effects of success

The Erie Canal is a 363-mile waterway that connects the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River in upstate New York. [1]
One unsuccessful attempt: The first attempt to make a way to the midwest was during George Washington's presidency. The small waterways formed the Patowmack canal. The small scale and the little revenue did not allow the project to succeed, but it opened the way for better attempts.
Irish and German immigrants formed the majority of the canal workers. They had between 40 and 50 cents for the day.
During the construction, there was an outbreak of malaria that caused the death of thousands of workers.
The Engineers responsible for the canal construction had no prior experience and had to fly to Britain to learn the basics of canal building.

As expected, the successful construction of the canal caused the population of New York to Quadruple between 1820 and 1850.
The canal also provided a great boost in the US economy, carrying 62% of the country's trade.
Shipping in bulk was now possible as it is not constricted by how heavy the animals can pull through the rough roads.
The effect on the American natives, however, was devastating as it accelerated their departure from their lands and pushed them further to the west.

[1] History.com Editors. "Erie Canal." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 15 Mar. 2018. Web. 09 Apr. 2021.