Introduction
Greetings traveler. You are about to travel back in time to experience the Erie Canal. The year is 1825 and the Erie Canal has just been opened. This amazing creation links Albany and Buffalo in New York State. This water route allowed farm products to flow east, and people and manufactured goods to flow west. The period of American History from 1825 to 1850 is often called the Age of Canals. Through this webquest you will travel back in time to learn how the Erie Canal changed lives. Watch this introductory video: America's Heritage: The Eric Canal
Task
This scavenger hunt is designed to introduce you to some basic facts and history about the canal. You, the hunter, will be given a series of short answer questions which can be answered using the web links provided.
Using the information you gain from the scavenger hunt you will have a final task: answer this essential question: (click on link to see overview of Erie Canal)
How did the Erie Canal change lives?
To answer the essential question you will need to write a thank you business letter to DeWitt Clinton. Using details from the videos, lyrics and readings from the scavenger hunt you will write the letter from the point of view of one of the following people listed below:
Farmer
Merchant
Laborer (ditch digger)
Captain of a Packet Boat
Captain of a Line Boat
Passenger
Hoggee (mule driver)
Process
Use the links to locate scavenger hunt answers:
Dates of Importance
History of the Canal
Digging the Erie Canal
Transportation
Locks on the Canal
Music and the Canal
Eric Canal Song by Springsteen with facts
I Was a Hoggee on the Erie Canal
Evaluation
Conclusion
Congratulations! DeWitt Clinton has received your thank you letter and sends you his appreciation. He hopes you had fun traveling back through time on the Erie Canal. The Erie Canal improved the lives of many people and businesses which DeWitt Clinton hoped you would discover.
Credits
America's Heritage: The Erie Canal (1957). Warner Pathe News. YouTube. 30 April 2016.
Boats on the Erie Canal. The Erie Canal. 29 April 2016.
Building the Erie Canal. History. A+E Networks. 28 April 2016.
Discover Locks and Canal Structures. Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. 30 April 2016.
Erie Canal - Bruce Springsteen 2011. YouTube. 30 April 2016.
Eric Canal Song. Karl Gunnar Holmqvist 2013. YouTube. 30 April 2016.
I Was a Hoggee on the Erie Canal. YouTube 2009. 30 April 2016.
Learning Adventures in Citizenship: From New York to Your Town. PBS Kids. 28 April 2016.
Locks on the Erie Canal. The Erie Canal. 27 April 2016.
National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior. 29 April 2016.
Tour the Old Erie Canal. The Erie Canal. 27 April 2016.