"Clinton's Folly" or a River of Gold? The Erie Canal's Impact

Target: I can explain the purpose and economic impact of the Erie Canal by analyzing maps and primary source documents.

Key Vocabulary

• Canal: A man-made waterway, like a river, built to allow boats to transport goods and people.

• Aqueduct: A bridge-like structure built to carry a waterway (like a canal) over a river, valley, or other obstacle.

• Lock (canal lock): A "water elevator" or chamber in a canal used to raise or lower boats between different water levels.

• Internal Improvements: Government-funded public projects, like roads, canals, and bridges, designed to help the nation's economy.

• Freight: Goods or cargo transported by boat, train, or truck.

Part 1: Do Now (5 minutes)

Directions: Read the prompt below and write a 5-8 sentence response.

Prompt: Imagine you need to send a 100-pound package from New York City to a friend in Buffalo (over 350 miles away). Before the 1820s, there were no highways or railroads. In a detailed paragraph, describe the challenges you would face trying to ship this package. What problems would you encounter? How long do you think it would take?

Sentence Starter: Trying to ship a 100-pound package would be hard because... I would face problems like... I think it would take...

Historical Context

Part 2: Analyzing the Sources

Directions: Analyze the three documents below and then answer the questions that follow.

Source 1: Map of New York State in 1830

The map shows the full geography of New York State. A bold, dark line, labeled "Erie Canal," is shown cutting across the entire state. This line connects the Hudson River at Albany in the east to Lake Erie at Buffalo in the west. Along this canal line, several cities are marked with large dots, indicating they are new or growing centers of population. 

Source 2: "Clinton's Folly" (Adapted from a speech in the NY Legislature, 1817)

Original Text	Simplified Text
Gentlemen, we are being asked to approve a project that is nothing short of madness. We are to dig a ditch three hundred and sixty-three miles long, through wilderness, over mountains, and across rivers... and a cost that is impossible to calculate.	Gentlemen, this is a crazy idea. We are being asked to dig a 363-mile ditch through the wilderness and over mountains. The cost can't even be calculated.
It is a gutter that will be filled with the tears of our taxpayers. This "Canal" will be nothing but a monument to our folly and will bankrupt our great state. Our children's children will be in debt.	It's a gutter that taxpayers will cry over. The canal will be a monument to our stupidity (folly) and will bankrupt New York. Our grandchildren will be in debt.
We must not, we cannot, waste the people's money on this fantasy. It is "Clinton's Folly," and nothing more.	We cannot waste money on this fantasy. It is Governor Clinton's big mistake ("folly"), and that's all.

Source 3: "A River of Gold" (Adapted from a Rochester Newspaper, 1827)

Original Text	Simplified Text
It is with amazement that we witness our city's growth. Before the Grand Canal, Rochester was but a small, sleepy village. Today, it is a hive of industry and activity!	It's amazing to watch our city grow. Before the canal, Rochester was a tiny, sleepy town. Today, it's busy with activity ("a hive of industry")!
Ten years ago, this land was a forest. Now, great flour mills and warehouses line the canal banks... Flour... is shipped to New-York City in a mere ten days. This is a journey that once took over a month by wagon...	This land used to be a forest. Now, factories ("flour mills") are everywhere... Flour is shipped to NYC in only ten days. That same trip used to take over a month by wagon.
The canal boat has brought the market to our very doorstep. Property values have skyrocketed... The "big ditch" that critics called a "folly" has become a river of gold for our town and our state.	The canal has brought the market right to us. Property is worth much more money. The "big ditch" people made fun of has become a "river of gold" for our state.

Analysis Questions

Directions: Answer questions 1-3 on your own. Then, work with a partner to answer question 4.

1. Based on the map description (Source 1), what was the main goal of the Erie Canal? Which cities grew because of it?

Sentence Starter: The map shows the main goal was to connect... This caused cities like... to grow.

2. According to the speech (Source 2), what were two reasons the author called the canal "Clinton's Folly"?

Sentence Starter: The author called it a "folly" because he argued it was... and would...

3. According to the newspaper (Source 3), what were two major benefits of the canal?

Sentence Starter: The first benefit was... A second benefit was...

4. (Work with your partner) Which argument is stronger: the "folly" (Source 2) or the "river of gold" (Source 3)? Explain your choice.

Sentence Starter: I think the argument from (Source 2 / Source 3) is stronger because...

Part 3: Exit Ticket (5 minutes)

Directions: Answer the following prompt in a complete paragraph (5-8 sentences).

Prompt: Using evidence from at least TWO of today's documents (the map, the opposition speech, or the newspaper), answer the Essential Question: How did the Erie Canal transform New York State?

Sentence Starter: The Erie Canal transformed New York State... For example, Source 1 shows... While some people like in Source 2 warned that..., the reality described in Source 3 was that... This shows...