Canals vs. Turnpikes: Revolutionizing Transportation in the 19th Century

What advantages did the turnpike offer?

Which of the following advantages did turnpikes offer during the transportation revolution in the 19th century?

Answer:

The true statement about canal and turnpike transportation is that canals were sought after due to the high costs of overland travel, and the Erie Canal is a prime example of successful canal infrastructure that spurred economic growth.

Among the given choices regarding canal and turnpike transportation, the true statement is that canal transportation was increasingly sought because of the very high cost of overland transportation. State governments supported turnpike construction by chartering corporations and investing in them, while also contributing to canal development. The famed Erie Canal, supported by the New York legislature and completed in 1825, linked the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean, significantly lowering transportation costs and bolstering economic growth. The early 19th century saw a flurry of canal construction which preceded the massive growth of turnpike infrastructure.