1. Students will learn about the impact of the Erie Canal on the development of 19th century reform movements, such as, women’s rights, abolitionism, and religious revival. 2. Students will understand how 19th century social reformers used the Erie Canal to promote their causes. 3. Students will be able to make connections between past reform movements and contemporary issues of equality and social and environmental justice.
Recommended level: Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
1. The Erie Canal as a Catalyst for Reform