Why are steamboats so important?

The steamboat was vital to enable regular seaborne navigation in all weathers. Previous to the ... Some of the top-end sailing ships might be able to compete with diesel ships but the construction costs are so high it would take a very green economy with abundant capital to achieve that outcome. 2. read more

The steamboat was vital to enable regular seaborne navigation in all weathers. Previous to the steamboat, international seaborne trade depended on the weather and particularly on the trade winds. Sailing ships were at the mercy of the winds and the weather was unstable enough for their seaborne trade to be unreliable and often risky. read more

Via steamboat, people could ship and receive goods easily and efficiently. By 1815, steamboats were the main vessels traveling the water. Accidents, such as explosions, were common and often fatal, states a University of Virginia website. Credit for the first attempts at a steamboat goes to Americans James Rumsey and John Fitch. read more

Steamboats were important because they were of a lighter weight than huge ships like the Queen Mary. Steamboats were easy to navigate on the Mississippi River in the early days of the United States so that cargo could be sent north or south. The railroads had not been built yet. read more