Question

• Vicksburg, Mississippi

• Memphis, Tennessee
• New Orleans, Louisiana

The invention of the steamboat helped establish these cities as –

A major centers of commerce
B locations of large textile mills
C. safe havens for fugitive slaves
D. capitals of state governments

Answer 1

The invention of the steamboat helped establish the cities of Vicksburg, Memphis, and New Orleans as major centers of commerce.

Step-by-step explanation:

The invention of the steamboat helped establish the cities of Vicksburg, Mississippi; Memphis, Tennessee; and New Orleans, Louisiana as major centers of commerce.

Steamboats played a crucial role in the transportation revolution of the 19th century, thanks to their ability to navigate shallow waterways and carry large amounts of freight. As the cotton industry boomed in the South, steamboats became essential for transporting cotton to the port of New Orleans, which was the primary trading hub for cotton and fueled the growth of the southern economy.

By 1860, thousands of vessels were steaming in and out of New Orleans, carrying an annual cargo primarily made up of cotton. The city's strategic position near the mouth of the Mississippi River, combined with the steamboat industry, led to its rise in prominence and importance.