Podcast
Questions and Answers
The population of the United States remained relatively stable between the first census in 1790 and the census in 1820.
The population of the United States remained relatively stable between the first census in 1790 and the census in 1820.
False (B)
Traveling west in the late 1790s and early 1800s was a smooth and easy trip for pioneer families.
Traveling west in the late 1790s and early 1800s was a smooth and easy trip for pioneer families.
False (B)
Turnpikes were publicly funded roads that were free for all travelers to use.
Turnpikes were publicly funded roads that were free for all travelers to use.
False (B)
Corduroy roads were specifically designed for dry, elevated terrains to improve travel efficiency.
Corduroy roads were specifically designed for dry, elevated terrains to improve travel efficiency.
River travel was generally more comfortable than road travel.
River travel was generally more comfortable than road travel.
Most major rivers in the early United States flowed east to west, facilitating trade and travel in those directions.
Most major rivers in the early United States flowed east to west, facilitating trade and travel in those directions.
Robert Fulton was hired by Robert Livingston to create a steamboat that could efficiently transport goods and people between New York City and Albany.
Robert Fulton was hired by Robert Livingston to create a steamboat that could efficiently transport goods and people between New York City and Albany.
The Clermont's initial journey from New York to Albany took approximately 32 hours, a significantly shorter time compared to using sails alone.
The Clermont's initial journey from New York to Albany took approximately 32 hours, a significantly shorter time compared to using sails alone.
What geographical limitation did steamboats face?
What geographical limitation did steamboats face?
What plan was devised to link New York City with the Great Lakes region?
What plan was devised to link New York City with the Great Lakes region?
What does the term 'census' refer to?
What does the term 'census' refer to?
What was the main purpose of turnpikes?
What was the main purpose of turnpikes?
What prompted the construction of the National Road?
What prompted the construction of the National Road?
What was a major advantage of river travel compared to traveling by wagon and horse?
What was a major advantage of river travel compared to traveling by wagon and horse?
A significant disadvantage of river travel in the early United States was that most major rivers flowed in which direction?
A significant disadvantage of river travel in the early United States was that most major rivers flowed in which direction?
What made traveling upstream by barge challenging?
What made traveling upstream by barge challenging?
What was a limitation of the early steamboats developed by Rumsey and Fitch?
What was a limitation of the early steamboats developed by Rumsey and Fitch?
Who hired Robert Fulton to develop a steamboat for travel on the Hudson River?
Who hired Robert Fulton to develop a steamboat for travel on the Hudson River?
What was the name of the steamboat that Robert Fulton launched in 1807?
What was the name of the steamboat that Robert Fulton launched in 1807?
Flashcards
Census
Census
The official count of a population.
Turnpikes
Turnpikes
Roads built by private companies that charged fees for usage.
Corduroy Roads
Corduroy Roads
Roads made of logs laid side by side in muddy areas.
National Road
National Road
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National Road route
National Road route
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River Travel Advantage
River Travel Advantage
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River Travel Disadvantage
River Travel Disadvantage
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Rumsey & Fitch
Rumsey & Fitch
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Robert Livingston
Robert Livingston
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The Clermont
The Clermont
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1790 US Population
1790 US Population
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Where did most people live in 1790?
Where did most people live in 1790?
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US Population Growth by 1820
US Population Growth by 1820
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Westward Expansion by 1820
Westward Expansion by 1820
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Challenges of westward expansion
Challenges of westward expansion
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Ohio's road request (1803)
Ohio's road request (1803)
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National Road Justification
National Road Justification
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Steamboat Advantages
Steamboat Advantages
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Steamboat Impact
Steamboat Impact
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What is a Canal?
What is a Canal?
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Erie Canal's Purpose
Erie Canal's Purpose
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Steamboat Limitations
Steamboat Limitations
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Advantage of River Travel
Advantage of River Travel
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Disadvantage of River Travel
Disadvantage of River Travel
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James Rumsey's Invention
James Rumsey's Invention
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John Fitch's Steamboat
John Fitch's Steamboat
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Problem with Early Steamboats
Problem with Early Steamboats
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Robert Livingston's Role
Robert Livingston's Role
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Livingston's Steamboat Purpose
Livingston's Steamboat Purpose
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Clermont's Speed
Clermont's Speed
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Clermont's achievement
Clermont's achievement
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Study Notes
- The first United States census in 1790 showed a population of nearly four million.
- Most Americans lived east of the Appalachian Mountains and within a few hundred miles of the Atlantic coast in 1790.
- A census is the official count of a population.
- In 1820, the U.S. population had more than doubled to about 10 million.
- Nearly 2 million people lived west of the Appalachians by 1820
- Travel west was not easy in the late 1790s and early 1800s
- A pioneer family heading west with a wagonload of household goods faced hardship and danger along the way.
- Private companies built many turnpikes, or toll roads.
- Traveler's fees helped to pay for the construction of turnpikes.
- Good inland roads were needed for travel and the shipment of goods in the US
- Many of the roads had a base of crushed stone
- Companies built "corduroy roads" in areas where the land was often muddy.
- Corduroy roads consisted of logs laid side by side
- In 1806 Congress approved funds for a National Road to the West.
- Work on the National Road stopped during the War of 1812.
- The first section of the National Road, from Maryland to western Virginia, did not open until 1818.
- When Ohio joined the Union in 1803, the new state asked the federal government to build a road to connect it with the East.
- The National Road reached Ohio and continued on to Vandalia, Illinois.
- Congress considered the National Road a military necessity.
- River travel was more comfortable than travel over bumpy roads.
- Pioneers could load all their goods on river barges if they were heading downstream.
- Most major rivers flowed in a north-south direction, not east to west.
- Traveling upstream by barge against the current was extremely difficult and slow.
- James Rumsey equipped a small boat on the Potomac River with a steam engine.
- John Fitch built a steamboat that navigated the Delaware River.
- Steam engines were already in use in the 1780s and 1790s to power boats in quiet waters
- Neither boat had enough power to withstand the strong currents and winds found in large rivers or open bodies of water.
- In 1802 Robert Livingston hired Robert Fulton to develop a steamboat with a powerful engine.
- Steamboat was designed to travel in Hudson River from New York City to Albany
- Livingston wanted the steamboat to carry cargo and passengers
- The Clermont made the 150-mile trip from New York to Albany in 32 hours
- Using only sails, the trip would have taken four days.
- Clermont offered great comforts to its passengers
- They could sit or stroll about on deck, and at night they could relax in the sleeping compartments below deck.
- The Clermont's engine was noisy
- The Clermont's power provided a fairly smooth ride.
- Steamboats greatly improved the transport of goods and passengers along major inland rivers.
- Shipping goods became cheaper and faster.
- Steamboats ushered in a new age in river travel.
- Steamboats contributed to the growth of river cities like Cincinnati and St. Louis.
- Business and government officials in New York, led by De Witt Clinton, planned to link New York City with the Great Lakes region.
- They would build a canal, an artificial waterway, across New York State.
- The canal would connect Albany on the Hudson River with Buffalo on Lake Erie.
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Description
In 1790, the US population was nearly four million, mainly east of the Appalachian Mountains. By 1820, it doubled to about 10 million, with nearly 2 million west of the mountains. Travel west was difficult, with pioneer families facing hardships. Turnpikes and corduroy roads were built to improve travel.
