In the 19th century, America was divided by the Appalachian Mountains allowing the East and West to develop independent of each other, NY Governor DeWitt Clinton proposed building the Erie Canal helping to connect the country while also fueling its growth. He turned to the bankers on Wall Street for help. Shortly thereafter the issuance of bonds by Wall Street would help to build the nations railroads. The bankers on Wall Street even helped the North win the Civil War by providing a steady flow of money. Wall Street was a major contributor to the growth of America.