Question

How did the Erie Canal help people in New York State and New York City?

Answer 1

The completion of the Erie Canal spurred the first great westward movement of American settlers, gave access to the rich land and resources west of the Appalachians and made New York the preeminent commercial city in the United States. ... The effect of the Canal was both immediate and dramatic, and settlers poured west.

Answer 2

The completion of the Erie Canal spurred the first great westward movement of American settlers, gave access to the rich land and resources west of the Appalachians and made New York the preeminent commercial city in the United States. ... The effect of the Canal was both immediate and dramatic, and settlers poured west.