Answer:
"Chicago's location allowed it to serve as a port to the western portion of the Great Lakes."
"The U.S. government expanded Chicago's connection to the rest of the country with the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal in 1848."
"This connection to the railroad allowed Chicago to grow as a center of manufacturing and commercial retail. As a result, wholesale and retail stores blossomed in the Chicago area."
Step-by-step explanation: