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