Erie Canal

1. Erie Canal Elsie Sánchez Mary Arnone Lenny Weintraub Winter 2010

2. Methods of Transportation before the Erie Canal Farmer delivering goods by horse and wagon. Many people travelled by stagecoach.

3. Methods of transportation • How fast do you think these transportation methods were? • How reliable do you think they were? • How safe were they? • Student Task: • Study the photos of the modes of transportation. • Use Photo Analysis Worksheet to help you answer the prediction questions.

4. What were some of the problems encountered during the building of the Erie Canal? • Look at the picture. • Describe the landscape around the Erie Canal.

5. Problems with the Canal… • How do you think the mountains, hills, and forested areas affected how the canal was built? • What did they do to overcome these “obstacles?” • Student Task: • Work with a partner to discuss and complete the “Think, Pair, Share” graphic organizer to answer the questions.

6. Aim: How can we use a primary source to gain a better understanding of the Erie Canal? • An Excerpt from the Journal of Thomas S. Woodcock • ". . . These Boats have three Horses, go at a quicker rate, and have the preference in going through the locks, carry no freight, are built extremely light, and have quite Genteel Men for their Captains, and use silver plate. The distance between Schenectady and Utica is 80 Miles, the passage is $3.50, which includes board. There are other Boats called Line Boats that carry at a cheaper rate, being found for 2/3 of the price mentioned. They are larger Boats, carry freight, have only two horses, and consequently do not go as quickly, and moreover have not so select a company. Some boats go as low as 1 cent per Mile, the passengers finding themselves. Together, let’s read the following excerpt from the journal of Thomas S. Woodcock, a New York engraver, telling about a trip on the Erie Canal. After reading, complete the Written Document Analysis worksheet. Be prepared to share your answers. Include any unfamiliar vocabulary words. Note: This text will be used as a shared reading. Students have their own hard copy of the whole document.

7. Focus: How can we use a primary source to gain a better understanding of the Erie Canal? • The Bridges on the Canal are very low, particularly the old ones. Indeed they are so low as to scarcely allow the baggage to clear, and in some cases actually rubbing against it. Every Bridge makes us bend double if seated on anything, and in many cases you have to lie on your back. The Man at the helm gives the word to the passengers: "Bridge," "very low Bridge," "the lowest in the Canal," as the case may be. Some serious accidents have happened for want of caution. A young English Woman met with her death a short time since, she having fallen asleep with her head upon a box, had her head crushed to pieces. Such things however do not often occur, and in general it affords amusement to the passengers who soon imitate the cry, and vary it with a command, such as "All Jackson men bow down." After such commands we find few aristocrats." Here is another section of the journal of Thomas S. Woodcock. Read the excerpt independently. Add to your Written Document Analysis worksheet. Be prepared to shared responses, vocabulary as well as any other areas which caused confusion.

8. Focus: How did the Erie Canal Affect the Population of New York State? • The Erie Canal affected the population of New York State. Look at the census (population) data for Albany, New York City, and Buffalo between 1820 and 1880. • Populations of Three Cities in New York State, 1820–1880 • Years Population Populationof Population of of Albany New York City Buffalo 1820 12,630 123,706 2,095 1830 24,209 202,589 8,668 1840 33,721 312,710 18,213 1850 50,763 515,547 42,261 1860 62,367 813,669 81,129 1870 76,216 942,292 111,714 1880 90,758 1,206,299 115,134 How did the population change in these three cities during the period from 1820 to 1870? Which city the biggest increase in population growth between 1820 and 1880?

9. Focus: How did the Erie Canal Change the Economy of New York City? • By 1825, the Erie Canal gave another boost to New York's already busy seaports. Commercial vessels could now travel north up the Hudson River all the way to Lake Erie. This new waterway connected the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, and it caused a terrific boom [increase] in industry all along the Hudson River and made New York's ports and harbor more valuable than ever. Together, let’s read the first paragraph describing how the Erie Canal affected the economy of the New York City. After reading, complete the Written Document Analysis worksheet. Be prepared to share your answers. Include any unfamiliar vocabulary words.

10. Focus: How did the Erie Canal Change the Economy of New York City? • Between 1830 and 1860, New York City and its seaport grew at an astounding rate. “Prior to the construction of the canal, New York City was the nation’s fifth largest seaport, behind Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New Orleans. Within 15 years of the opening of Erie Canal, New York was the busiest port in America, moving [more goods] than Boston, Baltimore, and New Orleans combined. Here is another paragraph describing how the Erie Canal affected the economy of the New York City. Read the excerpt independently. Add to your Written Document Analysis worksheet. Be prepared to shared responses, vocabulary as well as any other areas which caused confusion.