Name - ___________________
Document Based Question: Erie Canal
Transportation systems often have a big impact on
communities. In 1825 the Erie Canal opened in New
York State.
Read the documents below. For each document answer
the questions that follow. After reading the documents
and answering the questions, write a composition that
explains how the Erie Canal affected New York State’s
development.
Document A: Map of Erie Canal
1. What are four major cities along the Erie Canal?
__________________________________________________________________________
2. What waterway connected the Erie Canal to New York City?
__________________________________________________________________________
Name - ___________________
Document B: Chart on Erie Canal
Travel During the Erie Canal Era
Dirt Road
(freight)
Canal
(freight)
Wagon
Line Boat
8 Horses
2 Mules
Amount of Time
15-45 Days
9 Days
Cost
$100/Ton
$6/Ton
Method
1. How long did it take to ship freight along the Erie Canal during the Canal Era?
__________________________________________________
2. Give two advantages of using the Erie Canal instead of dirt roads to transport
freight during the Erie Canal.
a) __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
b) __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Document C: State of New York Report on The Barge Canal
• New York City was ranked fourth in population in 1800 rose to first place . . . Albany
doubled its population within a few years. The population of Utica increased from 3,000
to 13,000 in twenty years. Syracuse, which was described as a "desolate" hamlet of a few
scattered wooden houses in 1820, became a city of 11,000 in 1840. During approximately
the same period, Rochester changed from "one wide and deep forest" to a prosperous
community of 20,000. Buffalo, a wilderness outpost of 200 in 1812, became a gateway to
the west and its population reached 18,000 by 1840.
State of New York Report on The Barge Canal, Legislative Document 1961
Name - ___________________
1. What was the population of Buffalo in 1840?
__________________________________________________________________________
2. What effect did the Erie Canal have on the cities located along the Canal?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Document D: Photo
Erie Canal in Rochester, New York 1907
1. Where and when was this photo taken?
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Looking at the photograph, what impact did the Erie Canal have on Rochester?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Name - ___________________
Document E: Engineer’s Report on Erie Canal
• "the uniting of Lake Erie with the Hudson [will] render New York the greatest
commercial emporium [city] in the world…The expense, be it what it may, is no
object when compared with the incalculable benefit…For these reasons I strongly
recommend the adoption of the plan."
William Weston, Engineer, 1807
1. Why does William Weston favor building the Erie Canal?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Essay
Transportation systems often have a big impact on
communities. In 1825 the Erie Canal opened in New
York State. Write a paragraph explaining how the
Erie Canal affected New York State’s development.
Use the documents above to help you answer the
question.