Definition:
The National Road was the first federal highway in the United States, and was built from Maryland to Ohio, and later extended into Indiana. The road helped many settlers head west as it provided a reliable route beyond the original states along the eastern seaboard.
President Thomas Jefferson signed a bill authorizing the construction of the road in 1806, and construction began in 1811.
The National Road was, along with the Erie Canal, one of the arteries that made westward expansion possible in the United States in the early 19th century.
Also Known As: Cumberland Road
