The Cunard Line launched regularly scheduled steamship crossings of the North Atlantic, carrying mail, cargo, and passengers between Britain and North America on a fixed timetable. Steam power made ocean crossings faster and more predictable than sailing ships, which still depended on favorable winds. The line's success encouraged competing steamship companies and accelerated the shift of transatlantic trade and migration from sail to steam over the following decades. Regular steam service also strengthened commercial links between British and North American manufacturers and markets.
Relevance to Trade History
Began the transition of transoceanic trade from sail to steam, making transatlantic commerce faster and more reliable.
Read the full story in our article Steamships and the Transformation of Maritime Commerce.
Source: Smithsonian National Museum of American History. See our Sources & Methodology page for how we select and verify references.