Post on 25-May-2015
transcript
8 T H GRADE PA HISTORY
The history of Transportation in
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Geography
Pre-1800
Forms of Transportation
Walking
Horse
Water
Details
Takes too long and tiring
Hard to travel in bad weather and over mountains
Can only go down stream
Pre 1800
Effects on Pennsylvania
It was difficult to get supplies to Western Pennsylvania
This slowed settlement to the West
1750-1850 – Conestoga Details
Strong wagon- had to be pulled by horses or oxen
Carried a lot of freight
Made water proof by applying a wax to wood
Animals could ford the rivers or they could be moved across the river on large flat boats
1750-1850 – Conestoga Effects
Increased supplies to Western PA
Increased Settlement in Western PA
Travel time from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh was 6 weeks
1750-1850 – Conestoga Effects
The national Road become a major roadway to the west
Many local towns developed because of the movement west
Claysville, West Alex, and West Middletown are all examples
1825-1858-Canals Details
Canals used flat boats on rails or water that are pulled by horses
They were difficult and costly to build
1828- 1858 Canals Effects
1828- 1858 Canals Effects
PA spent one hundred million dollars on their canal system
PA had move Canals than any other state
Nearly bankrupted the state
Eventually recovered the cost through trade, and the movement of people of raw materials
Made business grow
1828- 1858 Canals Effects
Cut travel time from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh to 4 days
Lumber and coal could be moved to factories
Cities could receive crops and other farm goods
Helped Rural Communities grow
1812 Steamboats – Details
Coal was used to power the boats
Could travel up and down the rivers
Traveled the Mississippi River to Pittsburgh
Many PA rivers were to shallow (Susquehanna)
1812 Steamboats – effects
Made Pittsburgh a trade center and manufacturing center
1809 Railroad- Details
Railroads started as wagons pulled by horses on wooden rails
Iron then replaced the wooden rails. They could carry more weight
Engines replaced horses. They were powered by burning wood
Sparks from burning wood cause fires along the tracks
1809 Railroad- Details
Soon coal replace wood as a fuel
Train could travel over mountains
Trains were now faster, cheaper
They also required less human effort and could carry more freight
1809 Railroads- Effects
Could travel from Philadelphia in 28 hours
Industry increased because of the need of Coal and iron Used to make the rails
and engines Coal was also used to
power the trains Raw materials can get
to factories faster
1809 Railroads- Effects
Railroad companies grew creating more jobs
Increased trade and travel around the country