What was the significance of Robert Fulton?

A) He was responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal.
B) His work in designing steamboats made upstream commerce possible.
C) His innovations led to the revolution in turnpike construction in the early nineteenth century.
D) As mayor of New York, he worked to make that city a commercial center.
E) He sponsored congressional legislation that authorized building of the National Road.

Robert Fulton

An American engineer and inventor credited with developing the first commercially successful steamboat in the early 19th century, significantly impacting transportation.

Steamboats

Paddlewheelers that could travel both up- and downriver in deep or shallow waters; they became commercially viable early in the nineteenth century and soon developed into America’s first inland freight and passenger service network.

Upstream Commerce

The activities involved in the sourcing and procurement processes before goods reach the retailer or final consumer.