Select the four ways in which the erie canal affected the united states. a)westward expansion was aided. b) railroad construction temporarily declined. c) towns grew along the canal route. d) shipping costs between the great lakes and new york city were cut to a tenth. e) the price midwestern farmers got for their crops fell. f) more employees were available for northeastern factories. g) canals stopped being built because they could not complete. h) new york city’s importance as a port declined.