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The Erie Canal And The Paradox Of Progress Sparknotes

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In her book, “The Artificial River: The Erie Canal and the Paradox of Progress, 1817-1862”, author Carol Sheriff reveals that the creation of the Erie Canal fostered both pride in American republicanism and an underlining start to class tensions. Sheriff backs her discussion by highlighting in the chapter, “The Triumph of Art over Nature”, how higher class citizens cherished the idea of republicanism being represented in the Canal, yet the people who constructed this feat had no characteristic of this idea. The author’s purpose is to educate the reader so they understand that class tension stem from the fact that canal workers were seen as an oversight in credit for building this Canal and contributing to the progression of America. The Erie Canal represented not only American’s optimistic vision for progress but inequality between men of different classes. This inequality would ultimately be contradictory to the republicanism idea of freedom and citizenship in America. …show more content…

This imitation river was built with technology that was not even heard of, including, “eighty-three locks” that, “raised and lowered boats” in order to make it over large areas of land (30). Americans would praise each advancement of the project due to the fact that they felt, “they appeared to defy not just the whims but also the very laws of nature” (32). Mostly wealthier Americans would celebrate elaborately while workers, “gave a quick hurrah before moving on” to another job (51). These men were always searching for the opportunity to better their lives and their family’s lives in hopes of making it. The Canal helped solve a huge problem that Americans had which was getting items or people to places faster. It would also pave the way for exotic foods and clothing to make it to areas it has never been

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In writing A Voyage Long and Strange, Tony Horwitz’s goal is clear, to educate others on early America and debunk ignorant myths. Horwitz’s reason for wanting to achieve this goal is because of his own ignorance that he sees while at Plymouth Rock. “Expensively educated at a private school and university- a history major, no less!-I’d matriculated to middle age with a third grader’s grasp of early America.” Horwitz is disappointed in his own lack of knowledge of his home country, especially with his background history and decides not only to research America’s true beginnings, but to also follow the path of those who originally yearned to discover America.

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The canal was built by engineers who had no experience (Cortés Lecture October 31). The opening of the Erie Canal stimulated land values along the route, and increased the demand for a wide arrange of trade. This success caused many states to

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174 Words | 1 Pages

The Erie Canal was important to New York City’s trade for many reasons. First, the Erie Canal created a transportation system that allowed goods to easily flow between the Great lakes and New York City. Second the creation of the canal attracted an influx of farmers who were migrating from New England. This influx of farmers led to the creation of cities like Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse along the canal. The Most important effect of the Erie Canal on New York City’s trade was its effect on trade on a larger scale.

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177 Words | 1 Pages

The United States wanted to build it through Columbia. But, Columbia refused and said”No. ” We had to wait for panama to be independent. So,They became independent to us(United States).In order for the workers to accomplish The Panama Canal they needed to get past the obstacles getting in the way. After the first year people started dying.

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488 Words | 2 Pages

Did you know that the idea of the Erie Canal was first rejected by Thomas Jefferson before becoming an important part in American History? The Erie Canal was a very important way of transportation back in the first years of our nation. Many even say it was the greatest invention in New York history. The construction of the Erie canal created a more efficient navigable route from the Atlantic part of New York to the Great Lakes, greatly impacting the movement of people and goods to the American West.

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672 Words | 3 Pages

The Erie Canal has a considerably colossal effect on not only enhancing New York but also quickly escalating America's incomes. As chart 2 displays, when they had engineered the Erie Canal they couldn't imagine the magnitude of change this would bring. From 1825 to 1855 the were spending 200,000 dollars on things like repairing the canal, yet they were acquiring 450,000 dollars creating a profit of 250,000 dollars. " Within 15 years of the

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776 Words | 4 Pages

Senses of nationalism were still evident and showed through America’s celebrations over their victories. Even after several years from when Revolutionary War ended, the people of America still celebrated it in 1819 (Doc C), showing how Americans can come together despite their differences. With America as a whole, the Rush-Bagot Agreement, Adams-Onis Treaty, and Monroe Doctrine were actions that were greatly supported by the people and would further assist in the advancement of the country (Doc H), providing great confidence for the people of America with their conflicts against Europeans. Another factor to America’s sense of national pride is the attempt to promote general welfare by uniting the country with a system of roads and canals made by John C. Calhoun (Doc B) despite his plan being shot down by the government. Even so, these events undeniably contributed to the existing senses of pride and unity within the nation.

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These trade boats came from Europe and now passed through Cleveland on their way down to the Gulf of Mexico polluting at every point along the journey. “In 1862, Congress passed the first of several railroad acts that would eventually connect the continent, lessening the need for rivers as a major mode of transportation within the commercial, public, and military sectors. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Navigation Data Center reported declining commercial traffic on many of the nation's waterways.” (Harlow ) Despite the railroad acts, influential business men

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563 Words | 3 Pages

The Panama Canal is known to be one of the many world wonders that was created by man. This world wonder unlike the others was created by man and the purpose of the canal was to connect the two oceans the Atlantic and the Pacific. The man purpose they made the canal was to help ships cross the land without having to go around all of South America but this canal caused many problems and even deaths during creation. Although this canal is in Panama the canal was created by Americans who moved to Panama to create the canal after the French who were the first to try but the French failed and the Americans moved in and made the canal after years if working. When the canal was built it was considered one of the biggest American project that would

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570 Words | 3 Pages

"Chart 2" shows the expenditures and revenue of the State of Ohio from 1827 to 1903. There is a huge Revenue line from about 1840 to about 1855. That's over ten years of $250,000 to 450,000 a year. A lot of traders were on and along this canal, and making lots of money. Not only did people from America trade their, people from other countries traded their as well.

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Merrell’s article proves the point that the lives of the Native Americans drastically changed just as the Europeans had. In order to survive, the Native Americans and Europeans had to work for the greater good. Throughout the article, these ideas are explained in more detail and uncover that the Indians were put into a new world just as the Europeans were, whether they wanted change or

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455 Words | 2 Pages

The Erie Canal was one of the most impactful man made things built in American History. But why was it so important? Why was the Erie Canal so helpful? What did people do with the Erie Canal? What did the Erie Canal do for people?

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659 Words | 3 Pages

Within the excerpt Life on the Mississippi, the author Mark Twain, applies imagery in order to portray how his perspective towards his surrounding environment gradually altered as he began to truly contemplate and identify the Mississippi River. By first scrutinizing his surroundings the author emphasizes the magnificence of the river as this was his initial outlook towards the river. This perspective ultimately diminishes as a result of the speaker comprehending the true connotation of the Mississippi River. Nonetheless, the author questions whether acquiring knowledge can truly benefit an individual or impede one from being open-minded to their surroundings. Twains initial depiction of the Mississippi River is quite positive as conveys

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3Drays, carts, men, boys, all go hurrying from many quarters to a common center, the wharf. Assembled there, the people fasten their eyes upon the coming boat as upon a wonder they are seeing for the first time. And the boat is rather a handsome sight, too. She is long and sharp and trim and pretty; she has two tall, fancy-topped chimneys, with a gilded device of some kind swung between them; a fanciful pilot-house, a glass and 'gingerbread ', perched on top of the 'texas ' deck behind them; the paddle-boxes are gorgeous with a picture or with gilded rays above the boat 's name; the boiler deck, the hurricane deck, and the texas deck are fenced and ornamented with clean white railings; there is a flag gallantly flying from the jack-staff; the furnace doors are open and the fires glaring bravely; the upper decks are black with passengers; the captain stands by the big bell, calm, imposing, the envy of all; great volumes of the blackest smoke are rolling and tumbling out of the chimneys—a husbanded grandeur created with a bit of pitch pine just before arriving at a town; the crew are grouped on the forecastle; the broad stage is run far out over the port bow, and an envied deckhand stands picturesquely on the end of it with a coil of rope in his hand; the pent steam is screaming through the gauge-cocks, the captain lifts his hand, a bell rings, the wheels stop; then they turn back, churning the water to foam, and the steamer is at rest. Then such a scramble as

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441 Words | 2 Pages

In 1782, French aristocrat J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur, wrote an essay titled Letters of an American Farmer as a way of defining Americans. To persuade readers from countries unfamiliar with the American society is his purpose for writing this. Throughout he shows a feeling of admiration and respect towards the American way of life. In the first paragraph Crevecoeur starts with his claim that America is a “great asylum” put together by the “poor of Europe.”

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