Answer:
The plans for building the canal were delayed by the War of 1812. But construction finally began on July 4, 1817. DeWitt Clinton had just been elected governor of New York, and his determination to build the canal became legendary. The construction of the Erie Canal, through mountainous terrain and dense rock proved as challenging as the political environment. Throughout construction, Dewitt Clinton’s political opponents ridiculed the project as “Clinton’s Folly” or “Clinton’s ditch.”
Explanation:
Sources: https://www.history.com/topics/landmarks/erie-canal
