Figure 1.--This 1890s photograph shows a passing train which by this time was the major mode of transport and had tied America together. Roads were still rudimentary once beyond city limits. This photograph was taken near Arlington, New Jersey, Roads in the west were even worse. Notice the bicycle which was becoming popular in the 1890s, just before the appearance of Henry Ford's Model-T in the early 20th century. And of course it would be bicycle repairmen that would launch the aviation industry at about the same time.

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 plave 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 Alleganies 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 opeming 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.

Chronology

Commerce in colonia America was largely conducted by sea, primarily with Britain. Commerce between colonies was more limited and also largely conducted by sea. There were roads out into the country from towns and the few small cities. There were no developed roads conndcting the few major cities. All important American cities had seaports, even Philadelphia. America developed an important ship building and maritime industry. This began as an offshoot of fishing vessel construction in New England. Trade with England and illegal trade with other countries was vital to the colonies so merchannt vessel construction became important. These early vessels were rough hewn, but sturdy. And unlike English shippyard there was a ready supply of timber available. Wood construction reached the epitome of sail boat design with the China clippers. Transport became a major issue as Americans after the Independence began moving west in substantial mumbrtrs. This involved crossing the Appalachians. Crossing the Appaclins was one thing. Shipping produce back across the Appalachins on a virtually northeastern cities was another matter. The shipping cost more than the value of the product. One option was to convert corn to whiskey, meaning rrducing the volume. This led to the Whiskey Rebellion (1794). What most farmers were forced to do was to load their produce on flatboats (rafts) and flot down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans where thevcargo could be shipped by sea. A young Abraham Lincoln was one individual who made this trip (1828). The raft would be sold for timber and the men involved had to walk back north on foot. This is why New Orleans became the largest America city. The Erie Canal provided an easier route west as well as delivering Western produce to New York City (1821). The steam engine wouod solve the American transport problem. The pronlem of the homeward journey was solved by the paddlewheel steamboats. First was the Paddlewheel steamboats played a major in transport before the railroads on the Mississippi and its tributaries (1810s-60s). Steambots used existing waterways, The railroads required building subsatatial infrastructure. Building began (1830s). Steam power and industrialiazation led to iron and then steel vesels. Steam power, iron construction, and the screw propeller came together at the same time to revolutionize ship building and maritime transport. The same steam shipos that carried Amertucan priductioin to Wurope brought European immigrants to Aneriuca in huge numbers. Land transport was vital for economic development. The final major step in rail infrasructure was the Inter-Continental Railroad (1869). There were cord roads in the early-19th century, but signiicant land transport did not develop until the construction of the railroads. Actual roads were only marhinally imoroved even by the turn-of-the 20th century. 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. After Wirld War I, busses began to cvompete eith the rail roads. Railrod pasanger service begn to decline after Wotkd War II, but freight transports contibued to be vital. Suses became incvreasingly imprtant for passanger trival. Americans had cars and buses, 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 country 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). American xmpanies 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. Evetually the Federal Governmnt had to interbene to save rail passanger transportation, creating AMTRACK.

Mode

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.

War

Transport played arole in every American war. Transport played a role in every American war. The colonial merchant mnarine gave the Americans the ability to attack British shipping duyring the Revolutionary War. The Amerucans could not compete with the Royal Navy, but could raise the cost of the War to Britatin. The prolem od shipping produce from the Ohio Valley over the Appalachian Mountains led to the Whiskey Rebellion (1794). The British during the War of 1812 tried ton seize New Orleans it (1815). British control would be like a cork in the American economic bottle. A vital part of the Federal war strategy was the Anaconda Plan to isolate the Cofederacy. It was pProposed by Union General-in-Chief Winfield Scott and consisted of a U.S. Navy blockade of the Confedderate ports and an advance down the Mississippi River to cut the South in two and cut off Confederate armies from resources beyiond the Mississippi. An important turning point in the Civil War was the iconic battle between the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (Merrimack) in the James River (1862). The Monitor has been called 'the little vessel that saved the nation. The more advanced northern transport system was an important factor in the Civil War. The automobilev industry would play a major role in the American Arsenal of Democracy that helped save Western Civilization. It was at first only for the wealthy, but this new industry laid the foundation for the American air forces that would also help save Western Civivization.

Created: 5:59 AM 4/25/2010
Last updated: 4:45 AM 7/13/2023