The completion of the Erie Canal spurred the first great westward movement of American settlers, gave access to the rich land and resources west of the Appalachians and made New York the preeminent commercial city in the United States.

Question

The effect of the Canal was both immediate and dramatic, and settlers poured west. The explosion of trade prophesied by Governor Clinton began, spurred by freight rates from Buffalo to New York of $10 per ton by Canal, compared with $100 per ton by road. In 1829, there were 3,640 bushels of wheat transported down the Canal from Buffalo. By 1837 this figure had increased to 500,000 bushels; four years later it reached one million. In nine years, Canal tolls more than recouped the entire cost of construction.

Within 15 years of the Canal's opening, New York was the busiest port in America, moving tonnages greater than Boston, Baltimore and New Orleans combined.
—New York Canals

Question
Use the passage to answer the question.
How did the economic success of the Erie Canal impact westward expansion?

Answer 1

The economic success of the Erie Canal significantly impacted westward expansion by providing a more efficient and cost-effective means of transporting goods. The dramatic reduction in freight rates—from $100 per ton by road to just $10 per ton by Canal—encouraged settlers to move westward, as it facilitated access to rich lands and resources beyond the Appalachians. As the transportation of goods, such as wheat, increased rapidly through the Canal, demonstrating its effectiveness, it spurred a surge in trade and migration. This economic incentive, combined with the Canal's ability to connect the west to the commercial hub of New York, played a crucial role in driving the first great westward movement of American settlers.