A School History of the United States eBook


2.  The first to build a great western highway was New York state, which, between 1817 and 1825, built the Erie Canal.

3.  This cut down the cost of moving freight to the West, led to settlement along the banks of the canal, and made New York city the metropolis of the country.

4.  It was during this period, 1815-1830, that many inventions, discoveries, and improvements were made in the arts and sciences.

5.  The railroad was introduced, and the steam locomotive successfully used.

6.  The cities grew, and in New York the omnibus and the street car began to be used.

The movement of population into the West.—­The formation of new states there.—­The rise of manufactures in the East.—­The fine market the West offers for the products and importations of the Eastern States.

* * * * *

Lead to great rivalry between the Atlantic seaboard cities for Western trade.

* * * * *


The New York Route.

1807.  Steamboats on the Hudson.
1817-25.  Erie Canal
1818.  Steamboats on the Lakes. 
Chautauqua Lake and Allegheny valley. 
Effect of Erie Canal.

The Pennsylvania Route.

Old Conestoga wagons. 
Effect of Erie Canal.
1827.  Pennsylvania state canals and railroads. 
The Portage Railroad.

The Baltimore Route.

   1828.  The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad commenced.

* * * * *

The expansion of the country.—­The development of the steamboat, the railroad, and manufactures, and the increased opportunities for doing business.

* * * * *


   Hard-coal grate and stove. 
   Fire bricks. 
   Paper made from straw. 
   Brick-making machine. 
   Planing machine. 
   Platform scales. 
   Reaping machine. 
   Colt’s revolver. 
   Sewing machine (Hunt). 
   Steel pens. 
   Threshing machine. 
   Telegraph (electric). 
   Steam printing press. 
   Matches, etc., etc.



%325.  New Political Institutions.%—­Of the political leaders of Washington’s time few were left in 1825.  The men who then conducted affairs had almost all been born since the Revolution, or were children at the time.[1] The same is true of the mass of the people.  They too had been born since the Revolution, and, growing up under different conditions, held ideas very different from the men who went before them.  They were more democratic and much less aristocratic, more humane, more practical.  They abolished the old and cruel punishments, such

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