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* Increased trade and economic growth. The canal drastically reduced it for farmers, merchants, and manufacturers to transport goods to market, enabling them to sell more of their products and make more money. This led to increased economic growth in the United States, especially in the region.
* Increased settlement in the West. Settlers were able to travel more easily to the West due to the canal, and the demand for goods also spurred Western economic growth, resulting in the admission of ten new Western states into the Union between 1818 and 1858.
* Reduced transportation costs. Before the Erie Canal, it was expensive to transport goods overland. This made it difficult for farmers and businesses to sell their products in other parts of the country. The canal drastically reduced transportation costs and increased trade. This benefited farmers, businesses, and consumers alike.
* Stimulated the development of other canals and infrastructure projects. The success of the Erie Canal inspired other states to build their canals, and the federal government also became more involved in funding infrastructure projects. This led to the development of a network of canals, roads, and railroads that helped to connect different regions of the country and spurred economic growth.
* Increased political tensions between the North and the South. The Erie Canal helped to strengthen the economic and political power of the North, which was already more populous than the South. This contributed to the growing tensions between the two regions that would eventually lead to the Civil War.