Erie Canal Directions: Use the following website to answer the questions below about the Erie Canal. https://www.history.com /topics/landmarks/erie-canal 11. What is the Erie Canal and what did it provide? 12. Why was this canal useful for trade? Jesse Hawley 13. What was the inspiration for the Erie Canal?

11. The Erie Canal is a historic waterway in New York that connected the Hudson River to Lake Erie. It provided a direct route for transportation and trade between the eastern seaboard and the Great Lakes region, significantly reducing the cost and time of moving goods and people.<br /><br />12. The Erie Canal was useful for trade because it provided a more efficient and cost-effective means of transporting goods. By connecting the Hudson River to Lake Erie, it allowed for the movement of goods from the interior of the country to the Atlantic Ocean and vice versa. This facilitated the growth of industries and commerce in the region, as well as the expansion of markets for farmers and manufacturers.<br /><br />13. The inspiration for the Erie Canal came from the success of the Canal du Midi in France and the desire to create a similar waterway in the United States. The idea was further developed by Jesse Hawley, a canal advocate and politician, who proposed the construction of the Erie Canal as a way to promote economic growth and development in the region.