In the early 1800s, boats loaded with grain moved along a canal at about a walking pace. What moved these canal boats through the water?

Before steamboats, flatboats on the Mississippi River could only float downstream and were often taken apart at the end of the trip. What new thing could a steamboat do?

The transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869, when two rail lines were joined together in Utah. What did finishing it make possible?

Before the transcontinental railroad was finished, many families crossed the western United States in covered wagons pulled by animals.

A ___ is a waterway dug across land so that boats can carry goods between two bodies of water.

In the 1840s a new invention sent coded messages along wires almost instantly, so news could travel faster than any traveler carrying it. What invention was this?

In the early 1800s, hauling heavy loads of wheat and lumber over land was slow and costly. Because of this, early American towns and mills usually grew up next to what?

One family traveled a route by canal boat in 1850. Another family traveled the same route by train in 1880. What was the main difference between the two trips?

Automobiles became common in the United States in the early 1900s. What change did American communities make so that people could use them?

A student's timeline of American transportation shows the canal boat, the steamboat, the steam locomotive, and the airplane. Which one belongs at the most recent end of the timeline?

True or False: Steam locomotives burned wood or coal to boil water and make steam.

Wagon wheels crossing the plains wore deep tracks like these into the ground. About how many miles a day did a covered wagon on the trail west usually travel?

True or False: Steam engines helped boats and trains move without depending only on wind, water currents, or animal power.

In 1883, railroads across the United States began using something new so that train schedules would make sense from place to place. What was it?

After the Erie Canal opened in 1825, goods from the Great Lakes could float all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Which city grew into the busiest port in the country?

True or False: A trip that took many days by wagon might take only hours by car or airplane today.

Which invention made personal travel faster and more common for many families in the 1900s?

What is public transportation?

How can transportation improvements affect a town?

Which transportation method is usually best for moving large amounts of goods across oceans today?

Today, how do most people travel between the United States and Europe?

True or False: In the 1800s, most travelers used GPS navigation to plan their routes on long trips.

Which modern tool helps drivers find routes and directions?

What is one reason bridges and tunnels are important for transportation?

True or False: The wheel has been important to transportation for thousands of years.

In 1869, the two lines of the transcontinental railroad were joined at Promontory Summit, Utah. What special object was driven in to mark the finish?

What was one challenge travelers often faced on early roads?

What advantage do refrigerated trucks and train cars give food shipments?

Which transportation choice can help reduce traffic in a busy city?

In 1807, Robert Fulton's steamboat, the Clermont, made a famous trip from New York City to Albany. Which river did it travel on?

True or False: Faster transportation can help businesses sell products in places farther away.

Before the telegraph took over long-distance messages, what did the Pony Express use to carry mail quickly across the country?

What was one purpose of stagecoaches in earlier American history?

What did the invention of standard shipping containers make easier?

Which safety feature is found in many modern cars?

What is one problem caused by heavy car and truck traffic?

True or False: Bicycles need a gasoline engine to move.

Which transportation system was built mainly to connect U.S. cities with high-speed roads beginning in the 1950s?

Why do communities build sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalks?

True or False: Transportation has changed from mostly animal, wind, and water power to many systems using engines, electricity, and advanced technology.