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Negative Effects Of The Transcontinental Railroad

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The 1800s was a very eventful time for American history, consisting of the Industrial Revolution, Civil War, and arguably the biggest change in our society, the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. This extraordinary invention and design allowed for a lot of change in the U.S. This railroad truly paved the way for America’s future, and it instilled a strong sense of pride in the nation. The Transcontinental Railroad was a positive invention because it allowed for longer distance travel, and unified the nation; yet it could be seen as a negative invention because of the disaster it created for the Native Americans and the extermination of buffalo. In 1830, the transcontinental railroad, America's first steam locomotive, made its …show more content…

Although the world's size did not literally shrink, it seemed as if it had because it was easier to travel across the United States by the railroad. The time to travel cross country decreased dramatically from 4 months to just 3 and a half days with the Transcontinental Railroad. Because of this change in time travel, the Transcontinental Railroad served as an important link for trade. It was also a lot cheaper; the price to travel across the country decreased from $10,000 to just $150 using the first steam locomotive. Traveling before using something like the Pony express was difficult and not very safe. As stated in an article, "With the American Civil War raging and a secessionist movement in California gaining steam, the apparent need for the railroad became more urgent." This shows how there became a greater need for the railroad in the years before. It provided a safer, faster, and less expensive mean of transportation for goods and passengers. The railroad resulted the extermination of stagecoach lines and wagon trains which were far more dangerous and unpredictable. In summation, this railroad had a positive impact on the nation because it allowed for shorter travel time for goods and

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