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Positive and negative effects of railroads in the United States during the 1800s
Impact of railroads on the economy essay
Impact of railroads on the economy essay
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3. Despite the initial sentiment of economic historians, the railroad was not an integral part of American economic development after 1860. Even though the railroads were not crucial to economic growth does not negate the fact that the railroads were the first big business in the United States. The railroads benefited from economies of scale, increases in technology and pro-railroad legislation. The miles of track line increased exponentially from 30,000 miles of main line track in 1860 to 254,037 miles by 1916.
American History Assignment #8 How Railroads Changed America How did railroads become key to the Industrial Revolution? – use specific examples Long range significance of the railroads The railroads became a major breakthrough for America during the Industrial Revolution, due to the fact the railroads could move large quantities of products more rapidly than boats and horses could during that time period. This was especially important for businesses, since they are and always will be about time and money. The railroads became one of the key elements in the national transportation network for people and products, since railroad tracks could be built almost anywhere and rapidly.
In the late 1800s, the Transcontinental Railroad was constructed and that transformed the United States in many ways. This railroad helped expand the United States out to the west that could sew the country together and be connected in some sort of way. The Transcontinental Railroad impacted the United States economically by populating new areas for agriculture and mining, taxing railway shipping, and by importing and exporting. To start off with, a reason for an economic impact is the way the railroad helped populate new land that can open for mining, agriculture, and retail. Due to being able to mine, farm, and sell more helps the country expand in valuable resources found in the country, while also being able to sell food and clothes the
Statistical analysis of these factors has revealed that the railroad was a factor leading to settlement, with at least one half of urban growth in the Midwest in the late 1800s coming directly from railroad systems (Atack et al., 2010). As previously mentioned, poor soils and precipitation rates of the middle American continent prevented rich agricultural production found further east. This meant that farms would have to be larger to produce an equal amount of food and dense populations would benefit from supplementation from eastern production. By default, this meant the western development needed to originate in eastern cities and matriculate through towns and railroads to eventually reach western settlers (Wand and Latham, 2001).
The Transcontinental Railroad transformed the United States socially by allowing people to travel across the country, bringing people together, and beginning discrimination against the Chinese. The first way that the Transcontinental Railroad transformed the United States is by allowing people to travel across the country. Many ads invited “tourists and pleasure seekers” to use the Transcontinental Railroad to see mountains, valley, lakes, and more attractions (Doc G). Before the Transcontinental Railroad, it was difficult and dangerous to travel away from home, but the railroads made it easy, safe, and convenient to explore the country.
The 1860-1900 age was lacking transportation, however the sudden spark through technological growth helped solve that issue. Throughout the gilded age there was a lack of technology in the area of transportation. Most goods and resources were taken on horseback and this whole process was tedious and unnecessary. Then the transcontinental Railroad came along, this railroad changed the United States forever it allowed us to transport goods much easier then we were ever able to before. The Transcontinental Railroad was created May 10, 1869 and is 1,912 miles long.
The transcontinental railroad became important to westward expansion for obvious reason; it made travel to the west quicker,
The United States is a country that raised itself from nothing, and has changed, and adapted itself into one of the most successful countries in the world. The United States evolved from an agricultural society into an industrial one through advancements in technology, although not without many challenges to conquer. Yet even with scandals, problems, and death the United States has always proved strong. The transcontinental railroad was the match that set fire to the Industrial Age.
The building and growth of railroads from 1865 to 1900 played a very crucial role in American society which cannot be underemphasized. Railroads brought about many important happenings that that helped in the development of America and its people, its growth commenced the transportation of goods from one place to another thus it help people carry out business transaction in a quick and reliable way as opposed to what they were accustomed to before the railroads growth which was harder to move goods from one state to another and this caused many inconveniences that resulted to the wastage of time, capital and resources. Furthermore the growth of railroads brought about new dwelling places as people wanted to settle down in places that are connected to the railroads and that made it simpler for people to commute from place to place without wasting much time and this also brought about urbanization as people became many and this contributed to the growth of the economy and develop the country at large because people where now more than ever ready to engage in dealing with each other because
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
Firstly, railroads could be built anywhere and it could be build fast. The rise of steam-powered railroads transformed America’s social life and economics by altering transportation, agriculture, and industries. Without the railroads most of America’s resources would not be touched, industries would not be successful and civilization would had been slow. By 1890, railroads connected the major wheat markets and corn markets to the industrial cities in Ohio and Pennsylvania and the urban region. Railroads were used to move goods and people at a great distance in a rapid pace.
The building of railroads, canals and turnpikes cut travel times and prices as they connected far-flung cities together. (Nash, et al., 2007., p. 283) In addition to industrialization people were attracted westward by new opportunities such as land speculation, becoming a doctor or lawyer on the frontier, some were drawn by mining wanting to get rich off the natural resources. (Nash, et al., 2007.
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.
With the advent of the railroad, many of these issues disappeared. Railroads had a major impact on advancing the American economy, transforming America into a modern society, and improving an antiquated transportation system. The building of railroads created rapid economic growth in America. Railroad companies employed more than one million workers to build and maintain railroads. At the same time, coal, timber, and steel industries employed thousands of workers to provide the supplies necessary to build railroads (Chapter 12 Industrialization).
The expansion of the railroads enhanced the lives of Americans in many ways, this includes supplying materials across the country. The railroads aloud for items to be moved across the country very fast. Although the expansion of railroads did enhance the lives of Americans, some building the railroads were not so lucky to see its benefits. Building the railroads came with many hazards from the climate to explosions. Not only was the railroad dangerous, it also caused other problems.
