What was the first turnpike built in the United States and in what year?

The first turnpike built in the United States was the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but it was established well after the date suggested in the answer choice. The correct choice for the question about the first significant toll road is the National Road, which was chartered in 1806. The National Road is particularly important as it marked a significant development in U.S. transportation, facilitating westward expansion and commerce during the early 19th century.

While the Cumberland Road is also closely associated with the National Road, it is actually the and serves as an alternate name for it in different contexts, but it was not a separate turnpike. Turnpikes played a crucial role in enhancing travel and trade efficiency, and understanding this historical context helps to grasp the significance of early transportation infrastructure in the United States.

Other options, like the Boston Post Road, while historically significant, were primarily routes for mail transportation rather than toll roads by the definition of turnpikes, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike is from a much later date in 1881.