kes, for the first time, goods were able to make it over the formidable Appalachian mountains. The steamboat was the first economical means of inland transport. It was faster and cheaper then the rafts used before them. Additionally, the steamboats made it possible to travel back up the Mississippi, allowing farmers and lumbermen to come down by raft, and travel home in the luxurious comfort of a steamboat after selling their goods. This also made the northwest less self-dependent because it was now able to purchase southern goods. While steamboats sparked the economy on the western frontier, canals became increasingly popular on the east coast. Although expensive ($25,000 per mile), and difficult to build, canals were an important source for those farmers and merchants who needed a cheap method of inland transportation. The water allowed horses, once only

Some common words found in the essay are:
Atlantic Ocean, Eli Whitney, Erie Canal, , France American, Western Canal, american economy, produce products, tolls collected, transportation system, 19th century,
Approximate Word count = 579
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)