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What Was The Importance Of Railroads In The 19th Century

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The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 began on July 7, 1877 in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Workers became angry when the company had reduced their wages for the second time within the previous year. “The strikers refused to let the trains run until the most recent pay cut was returned to the employees” (“Great Railroad Strike of 1877”). The decrease in wages was a result of the economy’s recent downfall. According to Joseph Adamczyk, “That year the country was in the fourth year of a prolonged economic depression after the panic of 1873” (Adamczyk). The invention of the railroad changed everything. It was the beginning of a new era. The railroad was a new way to transport goods, materials, and people. According to Stuart Moulder, “Prior to the last spike being driven in 1869, the only ways to get from coast to coast of the United States were a months long journey by foot, horseback or (very expensive) carriage” (Moulder). This means that the railroad was not only a new way of transportation, but also a new way of life. To put things into perspective, an article …show more content…

“What Was The Importance of Railroads in the 19th Century?” Quora, Quora, 27 May 2016, www.quora.com/What-was-the-importance-of-railroads-in-the-19th-century.

“Great Railroad Strike of 1877.” Great Railroad Strike of 1877 - Ohio History Central, Ohio History Connection, www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Great_Railroad_Strike_of_1877.

Adamczyk, Joseph. “Great Railroad Strike of 1877.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 31 Jan. 2018, www.britannica.com/topic/Great-Railroad-Strike-of-1877.

“The Great Railroad Strike.” Digital History, Digital History, 2016, www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=2&psid=3189.

“Railroads and the Making of Modern America.” Pittsburgh Daily Post, 20 July 1877,

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