Final answer:
The Great Raft restricted economic development in the 19th century by blocking navigation along the Red River, hindering trade and the transport of goods, which was essential for economic growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Great Raft was a massive log jam that clogged parts of the Red River in what is now Northwest Louisiana and obstructed navigation and trade. This natural blockade restricted economic development in the 19th century by inhibiting the flow of goods and people. It was not until the efforts led by Captain Henry Miller Shreve to clear the raft in the 1830s that the river was opened for reliable steamboat navigation, which was crucial for transporting cotton and other agricultural products. Before the clearance of the Great Raft, community development along the river was stifled due to limited access and transportation inefficiencies. The ability to move goods and trade commodities beyond local markets is fundamental to economic growth, and barriers to transportation like the Great Raft have historically posed significant challenges to economic expansion and industrial development.