Skip to content
Interpreting the Evidence

New York Canal Lands for Sale, 1823

Student View

About this Activity

  • Documents in this Activity:
  • Historical Eras:

    Expansion and Reform (1801 - 1861)

  • Thinking Skill:

    Historical Analysis & Interpretation

  • Grade Level:

    Middle School
    High School
    College University

  • Topics:

    Community
    Environment
    Erie Canal
    Industry
    Transportation

  • Primary Source Types:

    Written Document

  • Regions:

    New York State

  • Creator:

    NYS Archives Partnership Trust Education Team

  1. Load Broadside Advertising New York Canal Lands For Sale, 1823 in Main Image Viewer

Suggested Teaching Instructions

Document Description
This broadside (poster) was printed to advertise land for sale in north-central New York. Business people, called land speculators (Hez. B. Pierpont), bought large amounts of land and then tried to sell it to new settlers for a profit, October 1823. Sometimes they were honest, and sometimes they were dishonest.
For example, sometimes they would say that land was near the Canal even when it wasn't! Owning land near the Canal could mean easy transportation for farm goods to town and city markets, resulting in more money for farmers.
RETURN TO RESULTS