USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -New Orleans, at the mouth of the Mississippi River on the Gulf of Mexico, was the only accessible port for western farmers.

Detailed explanation-2: -Even before the introduction of steamboats to New Orleans in 1812, the port was destined to become a major shipping center of the young United States. Flatboats from throughout the Mississippi Valley carried the agricultural bounty of the land to be shipped to ports on the East Coast, Europe, and Latin America.

Detailed explanation-3: -Given its location at the mouth of the Mississippi River, New Orleans was critical for the economy. Western farmers utilized the Mississippi River to ship their goods south to access global markets. Overland routes to the east were far more costly and dangerous.

Detailed explanation-4: -The City of New Orleans grew up around this ideal bend of the Mississippi River where early trade and transportation thrived 300 years ago. As commerce along the riverfront grew, the Port and the region grew along with it.