The principal imports came from the same countries.

Imports and exports practically balanced each other, at about twenty million dollars annually, or about five dollars a head.

The great merchants owned ships and many of them, such as John Hancock of Boston, and Stephen Girard of Philadelphia, had grown very rich.
Inland transportation depended on horses and oxen or boats.

There were few good roads, sometimes none at all save bridle paths and trails.
The settlers along the river valleys used boats almost entirely.
Stage-coaches made the journey from New York to Boston in four days in summer and in six in winter.

Two days were required to go between New York and Philadelphia.