Were roads or canals a more power factor in unifying the US in the first half of the 1800s?

In the first half of the 1800s, canals were a more powerful factor in unifying the U.S. than roads. Canals, such as the Erie Canal, facilitated the efficient transportation of goods and resources between the East and West, significantly lowering shipping costs and spurring economic growth. While roads were important, they were often less reliable and more limited in reach compared to the extensive canal networks that connected disparate regions, fostering a stronger sense of national unity.