Final answer:
The invention of the steamboat impacted the economy of Louisiana by making it faster, cheaper, and more practical to ship goods.
Step-by-step explanation:
The invention of the steamboat had a significant impact on the economy of Louisiana. The best statement that describes this impact is that steamboats made it faster, cheaper, and more practical to ship goods. Prior to the invention of steamboats, shipping depended on wind and river currents, which made it difficult and expensive to ship goods against the currents. Steam engines made it possible to sail upstream as easily and quickly as down, leading to an explosion of travel and shipping that radically changed the frontier life.