The Erie Canal was a very ambitious project that connected Detroit and the huge commercial powerhouse of New York City.
Detroit benefitted hugely from this because:
it became a center of trade as people came to trade things coming and going to New York
the population rose significantly as a result of it being a center of trade
the city became more modern to accommodate it's newfound status.
We can therefore conclusively state that the Erie canal had such a massive influence on Detroit that it is no exaggeration to say that Detroit would not be the city it is today with the canal.
