Transportation Revolution

The Transportation Revolution was a period with United States' history when transportation became cheaper and more efficient. Many canals, roads, and railroads were built at this time.  The Erie Canal was the most amazing engineering accomplishment of the young republic due to it lowering the cost of moving goods from Buffalo to Albany to one-twelfth the previous rate and lowered the cost of western products in the east but caused an even sharper decline in the price of goods imported from the east by westerners.  Robert Clermont was the first to successfully propel a steamboat called the Clermont.  The National Road was a toll road between Cumberland, Maryland and Wheeling, Virginia.  It was an impressive road with a crushed stone surface and immense stone bridges.  In 1838 it was extended to reach Vandalia, Illinois.