b.Nationalism
The War of 1812 and the win against Great Britain created a surge in nationalism in America. The war proved to many that the US needed to create an independent system and officially become self-sufficient. This nationalism brought everyone together on the American System and in agreement to use federal funds to create better transportation systems. The Cumberland Road was created to connect New England to the Midwest states in the Ohio Valley and over to the Mississippi. The Erie Canal was also built to connect New York to the Ohio River and then connecting to the Mississippi River. These improvements helped connect the US and improve the overall economy of the whole country.