The erie canal opened new markets for entrepreneur during the market revolution. how did this affect how bought and sold goods?

The Erie Canal was an immediate success upon completion. It lowered the cost of shipping between the Midwest and the Northeast, which in turn greatly affected how goods were bought and sold. Merchants moved from boat to boat selling various products, and taking advantage of the constant flow of tourists. Moreover, ship machinery and manufactured goods were shipped from the East to the Midwest. At the same time, it spread the farm products of the Midwest all over the East and overseas.

can someone me with this question:  

1) the end of the conflict between the north and the south didn’t just mark the end of a war; it marked the end of an entire way of life.” which statement best describes what this statement means?  

a) the southerners were no longer free and were controlled by the northern states.

b) the industrial economy in the north was not sustainable.

c) slavery became illegal, which changed completely the south’s labor force and the agricultural economy was destroyed.

d) the states decided to relinquish their independence and return to britain’s rule.