The Raging Erie

In "The Raging Erie," Mark S. Ferrara delves into the profound impact of the Erie Canal's completion in 1825, a feat that transformed New York City and fueled American expansion. By spotlighting the often-overlooked laborers—Native Americans, European immigrants, and orphaned children—who drove the canal's construction, Ferrara reveals their struggles amidst the prosperity they helped create. The narrative also explores the canal's role in the spread of new ideas, religions, and social reforms, highlighting the deep social dislocation and hardships faced by those living along its banks.