The Erie Canal: An Overall Positive Investment

From a purely economically- and socially- inclined point of view, the Erie Canal was, overall, had a positive effect on America. The construction of the Canal opened up trade with the west as well as an easier way to move people who wanted to contribute to the expansion of American settlements. The migration numbers grew exponentially after the Canal was dug and more people settled in the west than ever before. Without the Canal, America would not have become the trans-continental nation that we are today. Transporting their supplies from their homes in the east to their new stretch of land became so much easier and faster and cheaper thanks to the Canal. 

Economically, the Erie Canal created jobs and improved the economy of tons of towns beside the Canal. It is hard to deny the fact that the Erie Canal paid for itself almost immediately, in 6 or 7 years. The concept of paying less to move west became much more popular, so more people wanted to travel on the Canal. Economically and socially, the Erie Canal created substantial benefits for America.