Final answer:
The Great Lakes facilitated the growth of trade-centric settlements, particularly in Chicago, which thrived as a break of bulk point with extensive transportation networks leading to significant commercial and industrial development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Great Lakes encouraged the growth of settlements in the Midwest that were heavily focused on trade and industry due to the convenience of shipping goods. These settlements often grew into bustling cities around strategic locations known as break of bulk points, where goods were transferred between different modes of transportation such as ships, trains, and later, trucks.
Chicago became one of the most important examples of such cities, taking advantage of its location near the Great Lakes and its connection to the Mississippi River system through the Illinois-Michigan Canal. This made the city a prime location for the processing and transport of agricultural products, bustling with warehouses, docks, and manufacturing industries.
The access to diverse transportation options such as waterways and railroads allowed settlements in the Midwest to become major centers of commerce and industry.