The expansion of railroads, canals, and steamships facilitated economic growth, created new industries and innovations, and set the stage for the continued expansion of the American economy in the years to come. While these developments had their social and environmental costs, they nonetheless represent a critical chapter in the history of the American economy and its ongoing evolution. One significant impact of transportation developments during this period was the opening up of new markets. The expansion of railroads, canals, and steamships made it possible for goods to be transported more quickly and efficiently, and at a lower cost.
During the period of 1815-1860, a Transportation Revolution swept through America (Murrin pg. 293). The improvements in transportation included more and better roads. steamboats, canals, and railroads (Murrin pg. 293). These new railroads were able to connect old communities with previously isolated areas (Murrin pg. 293). In 1815 the United States was a rural area stretching from old settlements on the Atlantic coast to the trans-Appalachian west, with transportation facilities spanning from primitive and nonexistent (Murrin pg. 294).
However, the means of travel kept changing. the first major movement in the way of transportation was the Cumberland Road in 1811. It was the first great federal transportation project and a vital highway to the west; it caused western cities to grow and flourish and increased the land value along the road. Even this major advancement was small. the best way of transportation kept changing and improving, until they hit a stop when they started using railroads.
In the 1840s, the steamboat was a very common mode of transportation along the rivers of south-central states. This, of course, resulted in increased business on and around the rivers that run through America. Another transportation mode that was boosted by the expansion was the railway system, as significant numbers of Americans desired to move West. As the century progressed, the railroad system began to expand to help transport both people and large amounts of agriculture goods from place to place. Not only did the expansion of the agricultural industry boost America’s economy, the continuous Westward expansion attracted more Americans to travel and settle Westward; this resulted in further economic growth due to the nation’s expanding transportation networks, the building of new infrastructure, and the settlement of new towns and communities which relied on goods and services to
The major decline in railroad transportation during the 1950’s was primarily due to the vast construction of interstate highway by the government. The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 authorized the vast construction of 41,000 miles of roadway with a steep price of 25 billion dollars that would come from taxpayer money. With the increase in air and road travel, the need to travel by rail, in a less direct route, seemed unnecessary. This would ultimately leave railroad companies to believe traveling by rail was in a permanent decline. On February 18, 1947, the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) formally announced that they were operating at a loss.
In 1830 the Baltimore and Ohio railroad tested a steam powered train this lead to Americans developing their own railroads.(pg. 256) Railroads helped transport goods and people move across the country faster than ever before. Railroads were used for many other things including transporting mail from one place to another. This helped people communicate with one another faster. By 1810 and 1820’s the number of letters delivered sent out went up by five million annually and cut the time in half to reach between cities and states.
Christine Lin Prompt: Evaluate the extent to which transportation innovation contributed to American national unity in the period from 1800 to 1860. are The innovation of transportation unified the American nation by connecting the states to make America’s government powerful. However, many may argue that these innovations only created more tension between the North and South states, not contributing to American national unity at all. Nonetheless, transportation gave people more opportunities to get a job and therefore helped the American economy prosper. Westward expansion was a goal that the government wanted to accomplish, and the new transportation advancements paved the way for that to happen.
Around 50 years before the American Civil War started, the Americans nation was blessed with a so-called "transportation revolution." This revolution in the transportation methods drastically changed the way in which the Americans and their belongings journeyed across their massive new continent. Prior to the revolution, transportations and traveling were made mostly over rivers, or on wagons dragged by imported horses on bad country roads, which was both dangerous and slow. This so called "transportation revolution," involving building a 620-mile long road called the national road in-between 1811-1837, and later on an entire railroad system, opened up new land for the American settlement as it provided the habitants with faster access to more
In 1870, the invention of the railroad made these trip attainable and the West accessible. Since the West was now more easily accessible, Americans were able to use the newly attained land to farm and transport goods back to the East. As a result, innovation and advances in farm equipment occurred, which boosted production. Therefore, the railroads changed how goods were transferred and made them more accessible to everyone.
Innovative ideas and technologies in transportation significantly impacted the America during, and after the Civil War. The Civil War was also drastically changed due to the amazing discoveries and innovations in transportation. Railroads were what was mainly used to supply America with munitions, troops, food, and etc. during the Civil War. America benefited from the invention of the railroad due to the ease of use for every American.
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.
Railroads were an alternate to water routes because they were a less dangerous approach of transportation. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which was built in 1830,connected the port of Baltimore to the Ohio River. Settlers moved west quickly due to the aid of The Pacific Railway Act of
Moshe Fogelman Essay III. At the turn of the nineteenth century, the first western pioneer farmers faced economic challenges, regarding food, clothes, and, most notably, a lacking in transportation. American transportation was so weak and slow that battles were often fought after treaties had been declared, such as The Battle of New Orleans, which occurred two weeks after the Treaty of Ghent had been signed. Despite highly influential manufacturing and agricultural developments, transportation developments in the first half on the nineteenth century had a greater effect on American economic growth as well as encouraging the manufacturing and agricultural developments.
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.
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.
