Final answer:
The invention of the steamboat helped establish cities as major industrial centers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The invention of the steamboat helped establish cities as major industrial centers.
Before the mid-1800s, factories had to be located near rivers and seaports for transport of goods and water power. The development of the steam engine allowed factories to be located near urban centers, encouraging people to move to these areas where jobs were plentiful. The steamboat also transformed transportation, allowing travel and shipping to occur more easily and quickly, which led to the growth and development of cities.
Examples of cities that were established as major industrial centers through the invention of the steamboat include Philadelphia, Boston, New York, St. Louis, Memphis, and New Orleans.