How Did Trains and Railroads Change Life in America? Before the advent of trains, people would travel by horseback, riverboat, and coach. This mode of transportation was slow and cumbersome and limited the number of goods and people that could be moved. The introduction of railroads revolutionized transportation and communication, allowing for the efficient and timely movement of goods and people across North America. It also facilitated the development of industries such as manufacturing and lumber, which in turn helped the nation's economic growth. Trains and railroads reshaped life in America by encouraging rapid immigration and travel, paving the way for western modernization and settlement, as well as economically expanding the country …show more content…
Trains and railroads encouraged movement and travel across America for immigrants, and to expand away from the cities in north-eastern and southern cities in America to escape its complications. An exhibition, Building the First Transcontinental Railroad, says, “For immigrants to the United States, the Transcontinental Railroad presented an opportunity to seek their fortunes… they found more opportunity than the port cities of the East Coast, where discrimination kept immigrants living in urban squalor.” Trains and railroads provided quick migration and expansion in America, which was vital in the progression of the country’s growth as immigrants used trains to travel across the country to start a new life for themselves. The immigrant population would play a big role in the country's progression, contributing to America’s economic growth. However, it did not only change life then but also has changed life now. Immigrants created the "melting pot" of America, where people from various ethnic backgrounds can come …show more content…
Trains and railroads established a new wave of economic growth that hadn’t been seen before in the United States. Wages were now higher, goods were and still are produced better and more efficiently, and new markets are now open. Now in the modern day, there is a variety of job opportunities and career choices to choose from that have sprouted from the use of railroads. Especially with the transportation of goods now, businesses can now be quicker without a time restraint limit like there was before. Trains and railroads also pioneered the economy which is now seen as one of America’s successes. Thomas Curtis Clarke writes at the end of his excerpt in The American Railway, bar 43, “The number of persons employed in constructing, equipping, and operating our railways is about two million. -The combined armies and navies of the world, while on peace footing, will draw from gainful occupations 3,455,000 men. -Those create wealth—these destroy it. Is it any wonder that America is the richest country in the
Completed in 1869, the Transcontinental Railroad opened new doors for the United States. In order for this to happen though, some had to be closed. Our country was in desperate need on some of these changes, but some we could have lived without. This great connection of the coasts brought with it many positive and negative effects on the Native Americans, society, and the environment.
Eduardo Gonzalez 10-30-16 US History Mr. Aguilera Trains and War The invention of the railroad and trains caused a boom in industrial growth. It allowed goods and people to be transported farther and faster than ever before, but it didn’t only boost economies it also expanded the ranges and longevity of wars. Railroads allowed for larger number of supplies to be transported.
People used the railroad to get around and go from place to place and to travel. Companies used the railroad to get their products
As stated in Background information "America's economic transformation in the 1800s was linked to dramatic changes in transportation networks.” This was followed up by "The development of canals, steamboats, roads, and railroads led to the expansion of
Corruption was rampant amongst railway tycoons and they weren’t ashamed to buy off the government and have their way on economic matters. Congress in response implemented the Interstate Commerce Act in 1887 to try and reduce the control of the railway owners. The growing transportation system allowed for more raw materials to be transported to continually evolving plants to be refined and created into usable products. Inventors like Thomas Edison invented new devices that revolutionized daily life and moguls like Henry Ford took the concept of mass production and perfected it.
Like farmers, mining and logging companies needed a way to transport their products to industrial centers and found their need met by trains.” Any areas that grew crops, mined, logged, etc. would have benefited from railroads, because they would have been able to transport their products to sell. Railroads reduced the travel time required to deliver things like mail. The Library of Congress states, “After nearly 4,000 years of delivery by foot, horse, or boat, in the early 19th century the speed of mail delivery was greatly improved with the use of steamships and railroads.” Areas across the nation would have benefited from railroads because they increased the speed of mail, and this meant news would spread faster.
The world has seen many Inventions, tons have claimed to “Change the world” but if you ask me I think that the railroads and train is one of and if not the world’s most important inventions ever made. Most of this essay talked about how trains helped America, but it turns out that trains just helped the world in general. The economy in America changed, effecting trade prices with other countries. In Europe trains crossed borders taking most of the fear of predators away. Even today trains are used to transport, people goods and oil.
⦁ They led to the creation of hundreds of thousands of new towns/cities ⦁ They expanded existing United States territories and increased the number of states in the country. ⦁ They led to a surge in capital, enhanced trade, and boosted travelling rates. ⦁ They lowered the cost of transportation. ⦁ Railroads helped increase the population by extended the routes of trains, which
Without the development of railroads, America would not have become what it is today. The railroad played a huge part in the economy and in the war. Many people were able to build their lives because of how easy it was to move objects. Before the transcontinental railroad was made the way goods were transported was by sea around South America. The railroad stretched 2000 miles through the America compared to the 18,000 miles needed for ships to travel.(“Digital History”) With this shorter distance allowed for more people to be able to obtain goods.
How Did Trains and Railroads Change Life in America? Prior to the Industrial Revolution, many people relied on slow and strenuous methods of transportation such as bandwagons, horses, and walking. Many life-changing inventions were created in America during the Industrial Revolution, such as the cotton gin and sewing machine. Although these inventions influenced many changes America, there was one invention that vitaly impacted the country which was the development of trains and railroads.
The railroad allowed the shipment of fresh goods as well as heavy goods. It made inland trade possible, as well as travel time less. The news and mail traveled faster.
Throughout American History, revolutions in transportation have affected the American society politically, socially and economically. Soon after the war of 1812, American nationalism increased which leads to a greater emphasis on national issues, the increase in power and prevalence of the national government and a growing sense of the American Identity. Railways, canals, and Turnpikes began to increase making many people employed. The era of 1830-1860 represents a shift from agrarianism to industrialism. Overall, during the transportation revolution, construction of turnpikes, roads, canals, and railroads led to the market economy expansion, an increased population in America and alternations of the physical landscape of America.
The Tremendous Impact of Railroads on America In the late 19th century, railroads propelled America into an era of unprecedented growth, prosperity, and convenient transportation. Prior to the building of the railroads, America lacked the proper and rapid transportation to make traveling across the country economical or practical. Lengthy travel was often cumbersome, costly, and dangerous.
The first way that the economy was impacted was that with the ease and efficiency of the railroads, they created a large demand for goods and labor because they needed a lot of people to help build the railroads and also needed a large quantity of steel for the rails and wood for the railroad ties. Secondly the railroads created a huge national market because of the simplicity of delivering goods from place to place. The railroads helped the people in even the most rural place prosper with the cost efficient transportation of the trains. From 1830 to 1861, the United States laid aproximately 30,000 miles of railroad track, which led to an increase in demand for coal which was used to produce iron for the
The building of roads, canals and railroads played a large role in the United States during the 1800s. They served the purpose of connecting towns and settlements so that goods could be transported quickly and more efficiently. These goods could be transported fast, cheap and in safe way through the Erie Canal that was built to connect the Great Lakes to New York. Railroads were important during Civil War as well, because it helped in the transportation of goods, supplies and weapons when necessary. These new forms of transportation shaped the United States into the place that it is today.