Selections from an American History Collection
Assembled by Peter Pappas
www.peterpappas.com

 

Lesson 5.   How did transportation  impact America in the 18th-19th century? (could include post roads, steamboats, sailing ships, canals, RR)  
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Tasks:
1. Compare travel by time, speed, etc.  
2. Compare advantages and disadvantages of each form
3. Assume the role of a mayor of a small 19th c town. Write a letter expressing the reasons why you hope to have  new transportation for your city.
4. Pretend you are taking an trip on post roads, sailing ships, canals, or RR in the 1800's describe your experience
5. Document your world. Keep a journal on trip that you take

 

Documents

Format Subject
General travel
Doc 14 Mrs. Child Condemns “the rage for travelling,” text Excerpt from The American Frugal Housewife by Lydia Maria Child
Doc 28 The jolly flat boat men print painted by G.C. Bingham,
Canal boat
Doc 29 Erie Illustration illustration busy canal locks
Doc 30 Old Erie canal photo also showing RR tracks
Doc 31 Early Erie at Lockport photo  
Doc 32 New Stage Boat Line Poster (May1,1815)  Operating Between Schenectady and Utica

Post roads / wagon train

Doc 2 Mrs. Mary Dewees's journal 1775 text Mary Coburn Dewees traveled with her family by wagon, boat and foot from Philadelphia to relocate in Lexington, Kentucky 

Doc 3 Notice for Post road carriage line

news ad from Philadelphia paper 1788
Doc 5 Catherine "Kate" Cruikshank text detailed handwritten diary describes their overland journey by horse team
Doc 7. Interior of John Bemmerly wagon Photograph ,n.d.. [National Archives] pdf format Westward Expansion 1842-1912
Doc 8 Description of crossing the plains text  – needs editing
Doc 9 List of provisions to bring to Montana text – needs editing
Doc 10 Francis Parkman describes the Oregon Trail text The struggle of the overland journey
Doc 12 Line of post coaches broadside timetable side 2
Doc 17 Route of the Mormon pioneers illustrated map from Nauvoo to Great Salt Lake, Feb'y 1846-July 1847.
Doc 21 Camp 100 - Humbolt [sic] River Drawing series sketches from pioneer heading west on wagon train
Doc 22 North Platte- wagons on barges Drawing series sketches of  pioneer heading west
Doc 23 Chavis Creek, camp 14th Drawing series sketches of  rough winter
Doc 24 Crossing Cache la Poudre Creek Drawing series sketches of fording river 
Doc 25 The dessert [e.g. desert] Drawing series sketches of crossing desert 
Doc 33 Philadelphia Stage Coach Etching From "Harper's New Monthly Magazine"  1814

Clipper Ships

Doc 4 Poem written by Abiah Marchant text describing her experiences on board the Ship MAGNOLIA on a passage to California
Doc 6  Advertising cards featuring clipper ships from mid 1800s. images Hornet  or David Crockett many more at Sailing card collection

Steamships

Doc 1 The Steamboat Creole catches fire

text danger of steam travel
Doc 11 Splendid steamer Baltimore broadside timetable the wonder of the age
Doc 15 The Record Of Some Famous Trips. timetable steamship travel improves on the Mississippi
Doc 16 Mark Twain describes a close call text dangers of steam ships
Doc 26 Interior of a steamboat cabin at dinner time photo  large, posh dinner with waiters
Doc 27 A Mississippi River landing, Memphis, Tenn. photo busy wharf , men, and ships
Railroad
Doc 18 Vt. Central railroad line. Excursion routes ... [Boston 1869]. broadside poster railroad tourism
Doc 19 Railroad Directory. New York, 1854 schedule and map  
Doc 20 Steamer and RR broadside ad  
     
Early Airship

Doc 13  Wonderful, unprecedented, flying ship

broadside Primitive airship


 

Selections from an American History Collection
Assembled by Peter Pappas
www.peterpappas.com

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Peter Pappas
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