Vision Of Progress Analysis

In chapter 1, Visions of Progress reveals this vision of well known governor DeWitt Clinton who plans to build the Erie Canal both had representation of growing commitment in the North to the culture of improvement” (pg.25). Individuals the Sheriff identify as supporters to the practical republicanism party” who thought that “the nation’s common good depended on prosperity, individual opportunity and equal emphasis on rural and urban growth (pg.24). Sheriff argues that with a project such as the Erie canal it will help extend their vision of progress. Then as in this chapter as well it goes into broad depth about the “culture of progress”. By doing so she argues that locals of the canals corridor, differ from their parents and other locals
Which is promptly what the Erie canal did for many, it encouraged many people to then travel to new areas were before the canal they’d never imagine going like discussed in the book Niagra falls was one of the locations those traveled to on the Erie canal. So of course that added to the long list of sufficient benefits the canal has brought to those surrounding. With all success though, things that bring happiness to us eventually escapade from being not so great anymore. Overtime the hardships of the canal such as breaches trapped boat crews and freight, boats ran aground, horses ended up with fractured legs and many other factors that delayed those following behind. All of those factors made it extensively hard to travel which resulted to people seeking alternative routes, the railroads. Also as Sheriff includes that not only did those components lead to all of the above it also put a strain on the middle-class with their understanding of social order argued Sheriff calling into question whether the Canal was really a symbol of progress
It essentially is one big discussion clarifying how the citizens felt about the abruptly repossession of their properties that they once owned. Also revealed that it had been some fraudulent activity going on behind the scenes dealing with the Canal Board. So on a downfall citizens were only vividly seeing the negative side of having the canal. Citizen were soon becoming fond of the things that were going on dealing with the canal. As Sheriff makes evident citizens began to have ensight that the state had merely come to serve the fundamental needs and absorption of commercial elites. Sheriff informs that some New Yorkers sensed that the state had violated its mandate she then goes on to say not just by favoring the wealthy and well-connected but also by failing to follow through on the care of the citizens welfare