Artificial River shows the human dimension regarding the story of Erie Canal through Carol Sheriff’s extensive and innovative research. According to Sheriff, it is clear that there are varied responses of farmers, government officials, tourists, employees and ordinary people regarding transformation and progress brought about by the artificial river. The largest American man-made canal was finished in 1825 stretching 363 miles, 40 feet wide and just 4 feet deep. This is the Erie Canal which allowed citizens to occupy places they never dreamt of populating before. Furthermore, the canal connected Great Lakes to the Atlantic Coast; the settlers were able to transport their items and themselves promptly which had seemed impossible before. Sheriff’s book discusses the history and compares it with the creation of Erie Canal in a unique way. The author explores the development of the canal and the impact it had on the middle-class Americans. Furthermore, she explains the environmental and economic evolution which took place near the canal before, during and after it had been completed and had become an important mode of transportation in the region.
In chapter one of the book, “Visions of Progress,” Sheriff outlines the “culture of progress.” Based on her explanation, she argues that the inhabitants near the canal unlike people from other parts of the country combined “individualistic” pursuit of riches as they believed that “the goals of individuals should be subordinate to the common good, or the commonwealth.” (p.14). The New York leaders discuss the Canal and their visions as well as its potential. According to the governor, the new waterway will help many people transport their products to the shores of the Atlantic, purchase supplies and interact with other marine nations (pg. 09).
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
In the second chapter “The Triumph of Art over Nature,” Sheriff explores the beliefs of the Republicans in the upstate New York. The supporters of the new project saw it as a peculiarly American art project. She uses the term American art which is a 19th Century term for technology. She says that “Republican Free Men” built the canal based on the capstone in Lockport (p.35). The chapter details problems encountered in the process of the Canal construction, the large size and the complexity of the project. According to Sheriff, the Canal was “a tribute to republicanism” and a great achievement of the Americans, mainly the middle class. Although the project would be of benefit, the laborers had no resemblance to the Republican free men. They were landless and had no advancement. Those who supported the Canal saw the laborers as permanent members of the lower class. Rather than the leaders trying to incorporate them into their vision of republicanism, they ignored them to suffer. “Laborers meanwhile, gave a quick hurrah before moving on to another public works project.” (p.51).
Chapter 3 “Reducing Distance and Time” addresses the Canal services and the travelers whether tourists, immigrants, business people or even inhabitants of the region. The Canal had transformed the area setting a commercial revolution and encouraged the individuals to travel to new areas of the nation while on the other hand providing a link to people who had for long been left behind. According to the author, although the Canal would provide various advantages, there are some challenges which made travel unpleasant. However, other innovations complimented the areas of weaknesses of the canal such as rail and road. Ironically, those who had complained before about this mode of transportation soon realized its importance and appreciated it.
Chapter Four, “Politics of Land and Water” talks about the property rights in America in the early days. It also introduces the Canal Board which was a committee appointed by the state through terms of the Republicans to hear the grievances regarding the governance of the canal. The author goes on to evaluate the course of action of the Board and how it would serve for the common good. However, Sheriff claims that the Canal Board worked for the good of the Republicans as opposed to addressing the grievances of the citizens. Sheriff explains that: “… to many of them, republicanism had come to mean “fairness.””(p.100). Claimants stated that although the state had a right to promote the common good, they should compensate people injured during the process. The Board, however, disregarded all the negative statements which were piling up.
Chapter five “Politics of Business,” just like the preceding chapter deals with the commercial aspects of the Canal. Many people in the area made their living due to the Canal which brought issues which the Board addressed accordingly. While many people benefited from the progress made in the expansion of the Canal to connect it to the main route; as a result of this expansion, the areas that the canal reached developed immensely. Sheriff notes that “progress in their view did not mean an egalitarian society but rather one in which anyone would have the opportunity in all sense” (p.137).
The last chapter “Perils of Progress” persuades the reader on the problems associated with having the Canal and how it disturbed the middle class in the region. Among the perils of progress is that the children of the laborers were taken advantage of in every possible manner. The wages that the laborers were paid were low while the living and working conditions were poor. Some workers who demanded more were seen as threats to civilized society.
In conclusion, Carol Sheriff’s Artificial River and the persuasive nature of the language used shows different sides of progress and how they affect different people. While people may end up benefiting from different developments, some may be affected directly or indirectly. Although the culture of progress is a brilliant concept which improves the society, it may cause problems in instances where the parties fail to understand the reaction of people and address them accordingly.
