Final answer:
The Erie Canal had a great impact on the United States as it connected the Midwest to the Atlantic Ocean, providing a major route for commerce. It reduced the cost of shipping, reduced travel time to the West, and facilitated the transport of millions of dollars worth of goods annually.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best reason that the Erie Canal had such a great impact on the United States is b. It connected the Midwest to the Atlantic Ocean, allowing a major route for commerce. When it opened in 1825, the canal stretched 363 miles from Buffalo on Lake Erie to Albany on the Hudson River and connected the Northwestern territories to global markets. It dramatically decreased the cost of shipping while reducing travel time to the West, leading to economic growth and the transportation of millions of dollars worth of goods every year.