Steamboats proved a popular method of commercial and passenger transportation along the Mississippi River and other inland U.S. rivers in the 19th century. Their relative speed and ability to travel against the current reduced the time and expense of shipping. Steamboats were also used to carry items like lumber. ... Though steamboats are still used today, they have been made ineffective by larger freight ships and bridges in this day and age. But steamboats are still used for crossing rivers and lakes, or taking commercial tours of Maine's rivers and lakes. The steamboat profoundly affected the Industrial Revolution. Efficiently transporting goods and products would not have been possible without the steamboat. The steamboat's influence on the marketplace is apparent in modern society. Self-sufficiency decreased as steamboat transportation increased commercial trading capabilities. The advent of the steamboat increased dependency on manufactured goods, and personal financial well-being then became more dependent on market forces.
Study by Brown University historian finds that Native Americans who surrendered during King Philip's War were sold into slavery, with long-lasting effects
