Transportation Travelogues: 7th Grade Project for Chapter 11: Growth and Expansion 1. Imagine you are a traveler along the Erie Canal. Create a one page journal entry that details your experiences. Then create a second one page journal entry as a traveler on the railroad or turnpike. Use your textbook and other reliable sources to obtain your information. List your sources on the back sides of your journal entries.

Answer 1

Travelogue 1: Erie Canal

Dear diary,

I am a traveler on the Erie Canal! The canal is so peaceful and beautiful. The weather has been cooperative, which makes our journey even more delightful. The canal has allowed us to see New York from a different perspective. It is amazing to see how the canal connects different cities and towns that seemed so far apart before. I also learned that the canal was built to transport goods and commodities like wheat, corn, and flour across the state to the Hudson River and on to New York City. We saw so many barges carrying goods like freshly milled flour and apples, which will be sold at markets in New York City. There are also many farms along the way, and we see many travelers taking their crops to market. The bargemen on the canal are friendly and helpful, and they always share fascinating stories of their travels. It is a fantastic way to travel, and I am grateful for this experience.

Sources:

1. "The Erie Canal" by Antonio C. Lala
2. "Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor" by Canal Society of New York State

Travelogue 2: Railroad or Turnpike

Dear diary,

I am a traveler on the turnpike, and it is so different from the Erie Canal. The roads are bumpy and dusty, and it is much wider than the canal. We traveled by stagecoach to get to our destination. The stagecoach is definitely not the most comfortable ride, but it is fast and efficient. The railroad is even faster, it’s almost unbelievable! We saw trains moving at incredible speeds because they don't have to stop for loading and unloading goods like barges on the canal. The railroad also allows people and goods to move in and out of cities and towns much quicker than before. However, the countryside is changing rapidly with the construction of the turnpike and railroad. Cutting down trees and blasting rock to make the paths for these modes of transportation has disrupted the natural landscape, but it is incredible to see just how much progress is being made. Traveling on the turnpike and railroad made it easy for travelers to get where they need to be quickly, but it’s definitely bumpy and noisy.

Sources:

1. "The American Transportation Revolution" by John R. Stilgoe
2. "American Railroads and the Transformation of the Antebellum Economy" by William G. Thomas III.