Final answer:
The Mississippi River is a more significant transportation route compared to the Amazon River due to its longer history of human settlement and development, its strategic location connecting major cities and agricultural regions, and its extensive use for navigation purposes with the introduction of steamboats.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Mississippi River is more of a highway than the Amazon River due to several factors. First, the Mississippi River has a longer history of human settlement and development, which has led to the construction of infrastructure such as ports, docks, and transportation networks. Second, the Mississippi River flows through the heartland of the United States, connecting major cities and agricultural regions, making it a vital transportation route for goods and commerce. Lastly, the Mississippi River has been extensively used for navigation purposes, with the introduction of steamboats during the transportation revolution, which further solidified its status as a major water highway.