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.
For twenty years after the Gold Rush, Americans in California felt extremely remote from the rest of the United States. The early Forty-Niners of the California Gold Rush wishing to come to California were faced with limited options. Some options included sailing around South America from the Atlantic which could take up to eight months or travel by land but that came with many dangers as well. The railroads helped establish countless towns and settlements, it paved the way to abundant mineral deposits and fertile tracts of pastures and farmland, and created new markets for eastern goods. For many, the dream of a transcontinental railroad symbolized all sorts of hopes for better things.
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
The western area of the modern day United States remained largely unoccupied by American settlers for the first century of the country’s existence. The slow colonization was due to a variety of factors preventing successful, efficient, and safe occupation of the area. Likely one of the most influential factors was a simple logistical problem: traversing the continent prior to the advent of mechanized, overland transportation was extremely difficult, if not dangerous. This was not the only issue affecting would-be western settlers, but it was the first necessary challenge to overcome before any consideration of establishing a homestead. The development of a railroad network was the most important limiting factor in western settlement, and the
The period of 1865-1900 was a time of significant transformation in American agriculture, as technological advancements, government policies, and shifts in economic conditions reshaped the landscape of the farming industry. These changes had far-reaching effects on farmers across the country, who were forced to adapt to new challenges and opportunities. During the period of 1865-1900, technology advancements revolutionized the agricultural industry in America, leading to increased efficiency in transportation and processing of agricultural products. As evidenced in document F, it describes the establishment in Chicago that combined the operations of shipping and canning beef, the slaughtering capacity of 400,000 head annually showcased immense
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.
First, The Transportation and Communications Revolution enabled people to move their goods from one area to another at a much faster speed and at a more profitable margin (Schultz, 2013). Roadways, canals, steamboats, and railroads allowed goods to be transported much faster to markets throughout the country. In addition, at the same time that transportation was
During the 1920’s Canada’s economy prospered, since many countries recovering from the horrors and especially damages of the war, required Canadian products. Canada’s abundance in resources such as pulp, forestry, wheat and mining greatly contributed to Europe’s recovery as well as the Canadian economy. Throughout this decade, many products and resources became more available such as cars due to mass production techniques developed to meet the product demand. For instance, the vehicle ownership rate in Canada increased from 300 000 in 1918 to 1.9 million by 1929.
“(When) plants such as (the) textile factory appeared, soon the production of exports outpaced import of goods” (Document 3). Factories resulted in business owners receiving a greater profit because of an increase in trade due to goods being produced faster and sold cheaper. Therefore a cycle was set that benefitted consumers, workers, and business owners and contributed to the capital increase in the economy. Railroads also lead to economic growth, and “during the 1800s the amount of railroad track increased dramatically in Britain, the Continental Europe, and the United States” (Document 5). The railroad system was highly valued by business owners because it expanded the amount of customers they were able to deliver to, goods could be shipped faster, and the payload increased significantly.
As trains moved the good from rich resources from west to east, Railroad development boomed. Steel and oil were highly in demand. As a result of this industry, a number of businessmen earned wealth.
Either it being self defense, economic gain or for a political movement, War is influenced by many factors that lead to catastrophic results. Both the Gulf and Vietnam wars are explained by the article, “Military Multiculturalism in the Gulf War and After” and short story “The Things They Carried” that signify the blind eye displayed by humans during these wars. What allows Humans to process traumatic events is to turn the other way around and fill their minds with joyful moments in their life. A couple of ways are displayed in both the short story and article are the soldiers letting their mind escape and thinking about the things they brought with them from home and the public accepting the medias filtered perspective of war by supporting
The construction of railroads had a significant impact on the Latin American countries in both a positive and a negative way. The first railroad in Latin America was constructed in Cuba in 1838. Argentina was quick to follow, constructing their first seven-mile track and progressing to have the eighth largest railroad in the world. A benefit of these railroads was that they drew rural and urban life closer.
In 1694, Thomas Savery invented what would revolutionize the united states indefinitely, he called it the steam engine. This invention lead to the first steam engine locomotive which many would say was a beneficial turning point in the industrialization of america’s economy,allowing the steam engine to be used on the railways. Although the railroads did impact the United States and certain groups in positive ways,there were also negative effects that occurred. During this time period, there were many chinese immigrants that entered the United States who made up most of the workers that built the tracks.
The Canadian Pacific Railway was the final piece of the puzzle to finally bring Canada together as a country. The railway idea was introduced by Sir. John A. McDonald in 1871 to connect British Colombia to the eastern Canada. The completion of the railway saw Canada Unite into one country, rather than upper and lower Canada. Having a railway from eastern to western Canada was one of the largest and technologically impressive feats at the time (1885), and for many years after.
The Market Revolution had to deal with that of commercializing agriculture and not with industrialization, which was presented in three different parts (1) being that of a transportation and communications revolution (2) transitioning to commercializing farming and (3) industrialization. Transportation and communication within the revolutionary era were major, due to the importance of speedy transportation by use of the construction of toll roads, huge ruts and trees stumps in the middle of the roads made it so that the only speed that was acceptable was that of slow. After the creation of the turnpike and the lessons that it taught in the efficiency with transporting goods and products, the canal was invented, which brought with it a financial
