Advancements in transportation have played a key role in the
growth of our nation. U.S.government policies have also had a
considerable impact on the development of transport as we know
it today. In this series of three lessons,the students examine
transportation and its impact on our nation (and vice versa)
since the United States declared its independence in 1776.
Lesson 1 focuses on improvements in transportation during the
19th century, particularly the development of a national rail
system, to show how invention, innovation and infrastructure
encouraged western expansion and economic growth. Lesson 2 moves
on to the 20thcentury focusing on the development of auto
transport and aviation. The impact on communities and world
trade, for both good and bad,is examined. Lesson 3 calls upon
the students to create a class time line of transportation
milestones; the time line will help the students more clearly
understand the factors, especially the economic incentives,that
have played a key role in what has been