Robert Fulton's Steamboat Controversy

According to the dictionary, the steamboat is “a boat driven by steam power; specifically: a shallow-draft vessel used on inland waterways” (Steamboat, 2003). People laughed at Robert Fulton and his steamboat, the Clermont, when they departed New York City for Albany on August 17, 1807. The boat was nicknamed “Fulton’s Folly”. People said it was strange looking and they could not believe it would work because they thought boats could only be propelled by the wind and the river current. The Clermont went up the Hudson River at approximately five miles per hour. It was one-hundred and forty feet long with waterwheels fifteen feet in diameter on each side. The Clermont was quite loud, and there was a tremendous amount of sparks, fire, and

smoke (Leuzi 27). One onlooker said it looked like a “sawmill mounted on a raft and set on fire”, but the Clermont successfully completed its one-hundred and fifty mile maiden voyage in about thirty-two hours (Sutcliffe 78). Like all new and innovative ideas, however, there are detractors. In spite of them, the Clermont successfully completed its trial voyage. The return trip took about thirty hours (Leuzzi 27). Robert Fulton introduced America to the steamboat. These boats could give America fast, efficient, and most importantly, reliable transportation of freight, people, and information. Steamboat technology changed America, and played a part in America’s expansion to the west and the Industrial Revolution.

In 1764, James Watt of Scotland, patented his idea for an improved steam engine (Sutcliffe 45).

Others would use this technology in boats. American John Fitch had success in 1787, but had political and financial problems. On the other hand, Robert Fulton took what others had done with steam power and was able to make it into a successful commercial enterprise (Hunter 5). It was Robert Fulton who perfected the steamboat and it was he who produced the first steamboat that proved to be durable and economically successful. In 1807, the Clermont made its trial trip to Albany and back, moving against the current at about five miles an hour, which was phenomenal for the time (Sutcliffe

179).
Before the steamboat, people had to float their products down the rivers. This process was extremely slow and expensive. The spread of goods and information was almost completely a one-way route, completely dependent on river currents (Hunter 4). For the Industrial Revolution to happen, people had to be able to transport over long distances. This was especially important because people were starting to live in the West. People knew that in the American West, the steamboat could totally change the way of life for people living along the rivers and other places in the West. A boat that could move upstream would produce a new economy and form towns along the rivers. In addition, products could be brought to these people that they had never had access to before. With the steamboat, there was growth in transportation like no one had ever seen. Further, as more and more Americans moved west, steamboats were essential.
The most valuable feature of steamboat travel was its reliability.

While previous ships could only move with wind and currents, steamboats could move on their own. Steamboats could post a schedule with times that people could pretty much count on. In addition, steamboats were faster. Trips that had taken between three to four months were now taking one month. Earlier boats only traveled downstream. Steamboats were able to travel both ways. (Hunter 8). The steamboat set new trade in motion, caused new towns and industries to form, and created jobs. Steamboats eventually prevailed on American rivers. There was an increase in jobs for shipbuilders and improvements to the rivers, canals, etc. Further, due to the increase in shipbuilding and improvements to the rivers and canals, there was an increase in jobs and a change in the population near the rivers. According to Jeremy Atack’s article, “The advent of the western river steamboat revolutionized and refocused economic activity throughout the Midwest which was served by some 10,000 miles of navigable, or potentially navigable,

rivers”.
The steamboats changed life for farmers in a huge way. Farmers grew crops along the river because it was easier to transport them. In addition, because transportation was faster, farmers could sell their surplus crops to distant locations without spoilage during the shipping. Selling surplus crops stimulated economic growth in local communities (peopleof.oureverydaylife.com). Steamboats also changed the types of goods available to local markets. The way of life became changed forever for most farmers. Prior to steam power, most farmers just produced what was needed by their families. The steamboat made it possible for regional specialization in farming and manufacturing to come about. There were additional changes for farmers. As mass production of household goods became available, farmers who purchased the factory made items became less self-sufficient (peopleof.oureverydaylife. com).
With the impressive success of steamboats, steamboat builders worked to make running times shorter. The speed of the steamboats, the reliable schedules, and the increase in comfort all made it extremely appealing to those people who needed or wanted to travel. Further, steamship operators found that passengers were a great new source of income. There were many reasons passengers were

desirable to steamship operators. Unlike freight, passengers would pay. They could take themselves on and off the ships, and they did not require the space that cargo did. Travel for enjoyment was something new that could be offered to the public. Unfortunately, steamboats did have their problems. There were fires,explosions, collisions, and breakdowns. Now steamboats were becoming less basic. Passenger steamboats were becoming an elegant way to travel. There were staterooms with comfortable furniture. On the Mississippi River, there were floating palaces with hand carved woodwork, beautiful carpets, pillars, arches, and crystal chandeliers. The luxurious settings attracted pleasure-seekers and wealthy travelers (Leuzzi 31).
Clearly, there was much profit to be made in steamboats. Consequently, the dangers were largely ignored. In fact, there were serious dangers, such as explosions, fires, sinkings, and even Indian attacks. However, for steamboat operators, there was great attention paid to speed and racing. However, after a several explosions, particularly one especially horrific explosion on the steamboat Moselle, Congress was forced to step in. In August, 1852, the Steamboat Inspection Service was created to regulate the steamboat industry (Hillstrom 142). Before that, it was left to the steamboat industry to monitor themselves. Subsequently, as we all know, other regulatory agencies followed, such as the Ihe Interstate Commerce Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. This is another way that the steamboat affected society then and still affects us today.
Another result of steamboat technology was warships. Vessels like the Monitor and the Merrimack were able to do what previous ships had not. These steamboats were called ironclads because of metal plates that covered their main frame. They were armored steamships. Commanders from both the Union and the Confederacy used these ships for transporting troops and supplies for war (Hillstrom 34).
The steamboat was instrumental in the Industrial Revolution. The steamboat made it possible for people and goods to be transported faster and more economically than ever before. With steam, factories could be located near cities, rivers and ports. Steamboat transport of goods could now be scheduled. Steamboats allowed operators to make greater profits. Steamboat transportation increased trading capabilities. There also came to be a greater reliance on manufactured goods, and people’s standards of living became more dependent on market forces. Steam helped to set in motion the events that were the Industrial Revolution. Factory locations were no longer limited to certain locations, and factories could now use mass production methods to produce goods (peopleof.oureverydaylife.com).
The steamboat was a life changing invention. Steamboats transformed river travel and trade. They had a tremendous impact on the marketplace and the economy. Steamboats were vital to westward expansion in the United States, and they were a crucial link in the supply and demand chain during the Industrial Revolution (peopleof.oureverydaylife.com). Steamboats revolutionized life in America at the time. They were the most important type of transportation for trade, travel, and even war. With the nineteenth century approaching, “the steamboat represented the most promising technological advance in transportation since humans first domesticated horses” (Timmons 12). This was a new era in transportation and travel. Steamboats affected where and how people lived, worked, and travelled. In time, new transportation technology became more important than the steamboat. Today, only a few old riverboats exist to show what once was. However, in the early nineteenth century, the steamboat ruled.