How was transportation in the 19th century linked to the concept of manifest destiny? - transportation improvements such as canals enabled crops to be traded between states more readily, which strengthened ties between north and south. transportation improvements such as canals led to more exports of perishable goods, which resulted in extending u. s. influence to canada, asia, and south america. transportation improvements such as refrigerated cars allowed for crops to be shipped without spoilage, which fed the forty-niners during the gold rush. transportation improvements such as the railroad led to lower prices and easier shipping, which allowed people to expand to the west coast more easily.