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Transport might be considered an economic sector, but it is somewhat destinctive in that it is what ties the economy and all the other sectors together. The primary mode of transport in colonial America was shipping. Sail ships conndcted America with Europe. Trade was primarily with Britain and thus ocean shipping was key. The colonies did not trade to any great extent with each other, but what trade that did take place was most done by sea. And even as a British colony, the Anerican colonists built a substahntial merchant fkeet. Roads were rudimentary and farmers to get their goods to market relied heavily on rivers if they needed to move any distance. Thus the settlement of the Eastern United States was primarily done along rivers. Transport was a major obstacle to development. Farmers beyond the Appalachins could not transport corn and other grain any distance economically. Some coverted corn to whiskey because a higher value product could be transported economically. Amother approach was barges down the Mississippi to New Orleans where ocean shipping was available. The initial answer to transport for the young American Republic was canals. President George Washington promoted a canal from the Potomac over the Alleganies to the Ohio River. It was, however, the Erie Canal that opened the West and in the process made New York the capital of American commerce abd eventually the world. A major issue in the early-19th century was internal improvements, including roads and canaks. American shipbuilders and the Yankee clippers competed with the British in international trade. Canal building was cut short by the railroads which was essentially the industrial revolution in transport. British capital helped finance American rail roads. The rail roads played a key role in the Civil War and opening of the West beyond the Mississippi. The famed Old West cattle drives were undertaken to get Texas cattle to rail heads. The railroads connected the two coasts and eventually meant that farmers in the most remote locations had access to national markets. Steam ships first expanded the use of the Mississippi and other rivers. Applied to ocean shipping it expanded the reach of Amnerican industry and helped millions of European immigrants reach America. Henry Ford's Model-T and assembly line provided even further mobility, not only to individuals, but as a result of trucks, to businesses as well. This led to a major effort at road building. After World War II, aviation emerged as a major mode of transport. President Eisenhower impressed by the German Autobahns commened the inter-state highway system. The growth of cities created the need for public transport. Development was somewhat imoeded by private cars, but increasing attention is now being given to public transport.
The primary mode of transport in colonial America was shipping. Sail ships conndcted America with Europe. Trade was primarily with Britain and thus ocean shipping was key. The colonies did not trade to any great extent with each other, but what trade that did take place was most done by sea. Existing roads could not ne used for commerce between colonies. And even as a British colony, the Anerican colonists built a substahntial merchant fleet. Riverine shipping was of only minor imprtance as long as the colonies clung to the Eastern Seabird. After crossing the Appalachins, it became much more important. Thus the settlement of the Eastern United States beyonfs the Appalacjibs was primarily done along rivers, especvially the Ohio and Misssissippi River basins. Transport was still a major obstacle to development. Farmers beyond the Appalachins could not transport corn and other grain any distance economically. Some coverted corn to whiskey because a higher value product could be transported economically. Amother approach was barges down the Mississippi to New Orleans where ocean shipping was available. A young Abrahm Lincoln made that journey on a barge, but had to walk home to Illinois. The initial answer to transport for the young American Republic was canals. Canal building was a technology dating back to ancient times. President George Washington promoted a canal from the Potomac over the Alleganies to the Ohio River. Much of the Chesapeake abf Ohio (C&O) still exists. It was, however, the Erie Canal that opened the West and in the process made New York the capital of American commerce and eventually the world. American shipbuilders and the Yankee clippers competed with the British in international trade. One into the Ohio and Muississippi Basin was perfect timing because this was just when steam boats were develoed. No other country had river systems more perfectly suited for river boats. Steam powered river boats expanded the use of the Mississippi and other rivers becasuse they ciould move up river mking return trips. Applied to ocean shipping it expanded the reach of Amnerican industry and helped millions of European immigrants reach America. The Panama Canal had a major imoact on American shipping.
Our modern highway system is misleading. For most of history, roads and overland transport were not a major method for moving goods. Rivers were what was improtasnt and than sea transport erventually aided by canals were what was importsnt. The silk road is of course famous, but carried a very small quantity of goods. and only very valusvle liuxury goods could be transported over the Silk Road. Overland transport was expensive, mdeaning uneconomicasl for most goods. This severely limited commerce. This did not change with the settlement of America. Land trnsport swas only feasible for the fasrmers bringing goods into major cities, commonly ports. Roads were rudimentary and farmers to get their goods to market relied heavily on rivers if if producers needed to movetheir goods any dustance. A major issue in the early-19th century was internal improvements, including roads and canals. This did not chsngev in America until the coming of the railroad (mid-19th century). For the first time in hidtory, lnd transport swas not based on animsls, primsrily the horse. But this still meant that roads except leading into mzjor cities were not very important and thus undeveloped. And until the turn-of the 20th century, individual transport was still bssed on the horse. Whivh mean thst transport for Americs's growing urban populastion was very limited. Cites had improved roads--streets. What did change the importance of roads was Henry Ford and his Model-T Tin Lizzy. The Model-T and the assembly line provided unprecedented mobility not only to individuals, but as a result of trucks, to businesses as well. This led to a major effort at road building. While the railroad connected the country. There were no roads that connected the coountry. This began to change when Henry Ford invented the Model-T. Americans adopted the automobile with a passion began buying Model-Ts and other cars in large numbers. The automobile would not obnly change the world, but the industry that produced it woukd be a major cog in the Arenal of Democracy that saved Western Civilization. Americans had cars, but they did not have many decent highways. None other than a young officer named Dwight Eisenhower went on acoast-to-coast U.S. Army convoy which highlighted the inadequate American road system (1919). Wiil Rogers would quip that "America is the only countytry to go to the poor house in an automoble". All those car owners began demanding improved highways. Four decades later that same Dwight Eisenhower after viewing the German Autobahns at the end of World War II would launch the American Interstate Highway System (1950s). The economics of road transport is a matter of basic physics. Road transports involves the greatest fructiin/resistance and thus needs the greatest anount of endergy to overcome. As a result, road transport is the most expensive form of long distance transport. Where raod transport becomes important is the final few miles from the rail depot or port.
Railrods played a major role in American history and the development of the American economy. Eclipsed by air travel and the automobile in the 1950s, the critical importance of railroads to American is sometimes forgotten. Canals like the Erie Canal played an important role in America's early economic growth. They were, however, soon eclipsed by the inherent efficency of the railroads. The canals and railroads helped open the west, but by the 1850s there was still no connection between the east and west. The railway helped in the opening up of America. Many hundreds of immigrants travelled by train to their new homes. To travel to California, however, one had to trek overland by wagon train or sail. There were two routes, one around Cape Horn or two make a land portage across Central America. The desire to connect the east and west coast by rail played an important role in the coming of the Civil War. Southerners wanted a southern route and northerners a northern route. The greatest proponent of the trans-conninental railway was Senator Stephen A. Douglas from Illinois who was willing to compromise with the South to get his railway. The result was the Kansas-Nebraska Act which opened westewrn territories to slavery (1854). Bleeding Kansas became the opening round of the Civil War. The greater industrial power of the North including a much more extensive railway infrastructure proved decisive in the Civil War (1861-65). The commitment to build the transcontinental railway was made during the Civil war, but real progress only occurred after the War. The Union Pacific was chartered in 1862. The Union Pacific built west from Omaha and the Central Pacific built east. Imigrants after the Civil War began pouring into America and played a key role in building the transcontinental railway. The two rail lines met at Promitory Heights, Utah (1869). Railways by the 1890s linked all parts of the country. Travellers could go by train to any part of the country. The railroads became ione of the major targets of the Progressive movement in the late-19th century. For the first half of the 20th century, the railroads were the main way Americans traveled from place to place. It was at the railway stations that Americans said their goodbyes and welcomed family home. It was the railroads that moved the output of the Arsenal of Democracy to the ports from which they were shipped to American and Allied fighting men. The imporance of the railroads did not change until after World War II when as a result of the post-War boom that Americans began buying cars and the Federal Government began an extensive highway building program. And for longer trips people began flying. But this was just passanger travel Freight was still shipped largely by rail.
The growth of cities created the need for public transport. As in rural areas, the horse was the primary method of urban populastion. The cituies solved the unimprioved road problem facing the country as a whole. As cities grew to unprecendented sizes, the use the use of horses in for transport like trollies and goods waggons was creating a serious urban problen -- the poop issue. (A problen that San Frasncisco's woke policies has recreated in modern times.) Fortunately, Henry Ford snd gthe Model-T Tin Lizzie came to the rescue. The automobile solved the poop problem. The jinternal combustion engine not only provided cheap persinasl transport, but also was a boon to public tranzsport. Electrification also played a role with trollies and subways as well as elevated train lines in a few cityies. Eventually cars and trucvks created other opriblens like trafic jzams and eventull smog and other air quality pronlems. As a result, increasing attention is now being given to public transport. Many see electrical cars (EVs) and the sollution. As with much of the green asgenda. The EV sollution is not being ghought through by people thast are not math chsllenged. The cost of EVs and the quantity of the metals needed.
American companies began offering passenger air service. (1920s). After World War II, air travel became thanks to the magic of capitalism became a mode of travel that all could enjoy.
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