The correct answer is D) there were more economic opportunities in the west due to the success of the canal system .
The economic success of the Erie Canal impacted westward expansion because there were more economic opportunities in the west due to the success of the canal system.
The Erie Canal connected two important bodies of water, the Hudson River and Lake Erie. It opened on October 26, 1825. Most of the workers who built the Erie Canal were immigrants from Ireland. The Erie canal brought economic benefits creating waterways for faster traveling and transportation, and the development of towns that grew economically. Despite these advantages, the construction of the Erie canal was dangerous because there were accidents such as the collapse of the river wall.