Final answer:
In the first half of the 1800s, St. Louis benefited from the transportation revolution, with a significant increase in steamship traffic and development as a major port. The city was integrated into the national economy through transportation infrastructure such as roads, canals, and railroads, which facilitated travel, trade, and westward expansion.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the first half of the 1800s, transportation in St. Louis experienced significant changes as part of the larger transportation revolution. The city became a major port with the proliferation of steamships, which by 1837 numbered over seven hundred on western rivers. This rapid increase in steamship operations, with major ports developed at St. Louis and other locations, facilitated the movement of goods and contributed to St. Louis's growth as a hub for commerce. With the city's strategic location along the Mississippi River, these transports carried a substantial cargo, including cotton, which was incredibly valuable at the time.
The expansion of transportation infrastructure nationwide with roads, canals, and railroads had a profound impact on travel and trade. In the case of St. Louis, this infrastructure helped integrate the city further into the national economy, making it possible to ship agricultural and manufactured goods throughout the country. Additionally, these developments enabled rural people to travel to cities such as St. Louis for employment opportunities, thus affecting the social and economic structure of the region.
Moreover, the construction of cost-efficient and reliable transportation routes such as the Cumberland Road and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal played a role in the westward expansion and settlement of new territories. These routes facilitated the movement of settlers and the transportation of goods in and out of the growing western regions, including Missouri. St. Louis's role as a transportation hub was further solidified with the establishment of railroads, which complemented the use of waterways and helped shape the city into a critical intersection of trade and travel in the United States.