What does the Erie Canal connect?

The Erie Canal, completed in 1825, was a pivotal waterway in the development of the United States, primarily connecting the manufacturing regions of the East, particularly New York City, to the agricultural areas of the West, which included parts of Ohio and further west. This connection facilitated the transport of goods and raw materials, effectively reducing transportation costs and transforming trade dynamics.

The canal played a significant role in the economic expansion of the nation during the 19th century. By providing a direct shipping route from the Atlantic Ocean, through the Hudson River, and into the Great Lakes system, it helped to unify the regional economies of the East and West, promoting the movement of not just agricultural products but also manufactured goods, opening up new markets, and contributing to the overall growth of the economy.

While the Erie Canal did connect to bodies of water leading to the Atlantic and the Great Lakes, the essence of its significance lies in its ability to bridge the industrial and agricultural sectors of the nation. Thus, the most accurate depiction of what the Erie Canal connects is the manufacturing of the East to the farming of the West.