Transportation innovations during the 19th century, such as the steamboat, canal systems, and railroads, revolutionized migration patterns in the United States. These advancements made it faster, cheaper, and safer for people to travel long distances, leading to increased movement and settlement across the country. For instance, the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, enabling widespread migration to the Midwest and further westward expansion. Similarly, the construction of transcontinental railroads in the late 1800s facilitated migration to previously inaccessible areas like the Pacific Northwest and the Great Plains, leading to the settlement of these regions.
