New Roads, Canals, and Railroads in Early 19th-Century America

As land acquisition on the frontier of America continued, the vast expanse of the nation continued to be uninhabitable and difficult to travel. As trade routes opened, and railroads grew, the beginnings of groundbreaking transportation opened the frontiers. This is the fascinating story of the origins of modern transportation, detailing how roads, canals, and railroads were built, who built them, and how the presence of these new modes of transportation changed life in America.