Question

After the civil war, chicago became the largest city in the midwest because

Answer 1

After the Civil War, Chicago became the largest city in the Midwest because _____.

  the Erie Canal made the city an important center of trade

Answer 2

Do you have any ideas or choices all i have here is  this info that i typed i had this question before do not know if that will help tho. The Erie Canal was important to Chicago's growth in the 1830s, because the Erie Canal gave direct water access from the East Coast through the Great Lakes to Chicago. Another important development was the opening in 1848 of the Illinois and Michigan Canal that connected the Chicago River (and hence Lake Michigan) to the Mississippi River. But after 1850 or so, the most important reason for Chicago's growth was its development as a rail/ship nexus, joining railroad traffic from Iowa and points west, as well as Missouri, Kentucky and points south, and the Great Lakes, which connected to Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and through the St. Lawrence Seaway New England and Europe.