Erie Canal: Engineering, Markets & New York Communities — Drills · Grade 7 Social Studies
Chapter: Early Republic, Markets & MigrationWhat these drills covers
By the end of Erie Canal: Engineering, Markets & New York Communities you should be able to:
- I can explain why the canal was built and why critics called it folly.
- I can calculate the effect of a fall in transport cost.
- I can describe who dug it and who gained from it.
4 questions, written answer, each with a worked explanation.
Vocabulary used: context, primary source, interpretation, lock, transport cost.
Problem 1
Answer and explanation
It opened in 1825 and connected the Albany/Hudson area with Buffalo and Lake Erie through a water route.
Problem 2
Answer and explanation
It prevents a calculation model from being mistaken for measured historical prices and keeps the evidence claim honest.
Problem 3
Answer and explanation
It links the canal’s eastern end with the Atlantic port network. The full movement depends on connected routes, not the canal segment alone.
Problem 4
Answer and explanation
Transport is one cost category. Incomes depend on prices, other costs, employment, ownership, and who receives savings; different quantities answer different questions.