The Westward Bound Part 1 PDF

What is a census? The first census of the United States in 1790 revealed a population of nearly four million. Most of the Americans counted lived east of the Appalachian Mountains and within a few hundred miles of the Atlantic coast. intro census - t...

What is a census? The first census of the United States in 1790 revealed a population of nearly four million. Most of the Americans counted lived east of the Appalachian Mountains and within a few hundred miles of the Atlantic coast. intro census - the official count of a population after Most of the Americans counted lived east of the Appalachian Mountains and within a few hundred miles of the Atlantic coast. G8 Page 1 of 13  After 30 years... In 1820, just 30 years after the first census, the population of the United States had more than doubled, to about 10 million people, with nearly 2 million living west of the Appalachians. intro after Traveling west was not easy in the late 1790s and early 1800s as it is a 363 mile trip. A pioneer family heading west with a wagonload of household goods faced hardship and danger along the way. G8 Page 2 of 13  Turnpikes Private companies built many turnpikes, or toll roads. The fees travelers paid to use those roads helped to pay for construction. intro The nation needed good inland roads for travel and for the shipment of goods. after Many of the roads had a base of crushed stone G8 Page 3 of 13  Corduroy Roads In areas where the land was often muddy, companies built “corduroy roads,” consisting of logs laid side by side, like the ridges of corduroy cloth. intro after G8 Page 4 of 13  National Road In 1806 Congress approved funds for a National Road to the West. The work on the road stopped during the War of 1812, the first section, from Maryland to western Virginia, did not open until 1818. intro When Ohio joined the Union in 1803, the new state asked the federal government to build a road to connect it with the East. after In later years the National Road reached Ohio and continued on to Vandalia, Illinois. Congress viewed the National Road as a military necessity, but it did not undertake other road-building projects. G8 Page 5 of 13  River Travel Advantage It was far more comfortable than travel over the bumpy roads, and pioneers could load all their goods on river barges—if they were heading downstream in the direction of the current. intro If earlier we talked about traveling in land, this time, lets talk about traveling in river. River travel had definite advantages over wagon and horse travel. In your opinion, what is the advantage of river travel as compared to wagon and horse? after G8 Page 6 of 13  River Travel Disadvantage Most major rivers in the region flowed in a north-south direction, not east to west, where most people and goods were headed. Second, traveling upstream by barge against the current was extremely difficult and slow. intro How about disadvantages? Can you think of disadvantages of river? River travel had two problems, however. after G8 Page 7 of 13  Steam Engines Inventor James Rumsey equipped a small boat on the Potomac River with a steam engine. John Fitch, another inventor, built a steamboat that navigated the Delaware River. intro Steam engines were already being used in the 1780s and 1790s to power boats in quiet waters. after Neither boat, however, had enough power to withstand the strong currents and winds found in large rivers or open bodies of water. G8 Page 8 of 13  Developing Steamboat In 1802 Robert Livingston, a political and business leader, hired Robert Fulton to develop a steamboat with a powerful engine that could travel in Hudson River from New York City to Albany intro after Livingston wanted the steamboat to carry cargo and passengers G8 Page 9 of 13  Clermont Powered by a newly designed engine, the Clermont made the 150- mile trip from New York to Albany in the unheard-of time of 32 hours. Using only sails, the trip would have taken four days. intro In 1807 Fulton had his steamboat, the Clermont, ready for a trial. after the 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 engine was noisy, but its power provided a fairly smooth ride. G8 Page 10 of 13  Steamboats Advantages They greatly improved the transport of goods and passengers along major inland rivers. Shipping goods became cheaper and faster. intro What are the advantages of steamboats? Steamboats ushered in a new age in river travel. after Steamboats also contributed to the growth of river cities like Cincinnati and St. Louis. G8 Page 11 of 13  Canal In New York, business and government officials led by De Witt Clinton came up with a plan to link New York City with the Great Lakes region. intro Although steamboats represented a great improvement in transportation, their routes depended on the existing river system. Steamboats could not effectively tie the eastern and western parts of the country together. after G8 Page 12 of 13  Canal They would build a canal—an artificial waterway—across New York State, connecting Albany on the Hudson River with Buffalo on Lake Erie. intro after G8 Page 13 of 13