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Effect of railroads in the 19th century
Effect of railroads in the 19th century
Impact of the transcontinental railways in the 19th century 1870-1880
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The Industrial Revolution was a prosperous time for the western civilizations beginning in 1760 and ending between 1840 and 1860. The invention of railroads began in England, but was brought to the United States in the early 1800’s. In 1815, Colonel John Stevens got the first railroad charter with New Jersey Railroad Company, although a single train track was not laid until 1832 (www.american-rails.com/railroad-history.html). Therefore, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company built the first railroad in 1827. The machine was purchased from the Stephenson Works in England.
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.
The railroad was first designed by George Stephenson whose original idea was to use steam to run the train and make transportation faster. When the US started using railroads and trains they purchased them from the Stephen Works company from Britain. “In the 1850s a boom in railroad development across the North was changing business organization and management and reducing freight costs. Railroads were influencing a rise in real estate values, increasing regional concentrations of industry, the size of business units and stimulating growth in investment banking and agriculture.
With more railroads being built, it helped to establish the United States, and industries in the West used the railroads to connect industry to retail markets in Eastern United States. Without railroads, it would have been hard for the Western States to expand.
The railroad network played a pivotal role in the industrialization of the post-Civil War years. They facilitate the transportation of raw materials and goods over distances efficiently. This allowed industries to expand markets, increase production, and contribute significantly to economic growth. The expansion of the railroad network also spurred urbanization as city sizes increased around major rail hubs, creating employment opportunities. The development of standardized time zones became a necessity because of the need to coordinate train schedules for all distances.
The Second Industrial Revolution affected the North, South, West, and Midwest in several ways. New unions and laws were introduced. More issues regarding differences in culture and social classes arose. Economies developed greatly with efficient farming technologies and manufacturing industries. Populations had major changes with increased amounts of people in urban areas around cities, and increased amounts of immigrants.
While the railroad construction began long before the 1860’s, the major push for the transcontinental ability was completed in 1869, as the final
The company had trouble finding reliable labor, many men would use them for a free ride into the mountains and then would quit the project in hopes to find gold in the mountains. “Sometimes construction was sabotaged by Native Americans who were angry with the United Sates Government. The Native Americans lived on the land the railroad companies were now building through-land
The innovation of railroads, in particular, “helped to create new economic methods and institutions that were essential in guiding and shaping the American drive to industrialism” (Chandler 1965, 5). Chandler describes the railroads’ important impact on the “the expansion of wheat and cattle production, the coming of new commercial routes, and the adoption of mass-production methods in the manufacture of iron and consumer durables” (Chandler 1965, 23). These impacts all aided in the Westward movement. As Chandler recounts, “The railroad brought as significant changes to America’s industries as it did to its agriculture and commerce” (Chandler 1965, 22). The railroad revolutionized the transport of supplies that were necessary to industrial growth.
The industrialization period was regarded as an amazing period of growth in America. The population was growing at a rapid rate. The building of railroads contributed largely to the Industrialization, expansion from about 30,000 miles of track before the Civil War to nearly 270,000 miles in 1900. The abundance of natural resources: coal, iron, timber, petroleum and waterpower contributed to this remarkable growth. Labor was in high demand to run these new factories.
During the Gilded Age, many fortunes were made by the railroad system. The increased construction of railroads provided the transportation of people, supplies, and trading goods. The movement of people from the east to the west allowed for increased populations and the spread of their culture. The railroad system provided a service that could quickly and cheaply move supplies across America. The Manifest Destiny was also fueled by the railroad system in the sense that Americans felt it was their duty to spread the knowledge and teach other races.
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.
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 building and development of the railroad in all parts of the country were one of the most remarkable developments of the Industrial Revolution. With its creation and active operation, they brought significant change to the economy, society and the political world. The first railroads were built in Great Britain. America got the idea to construct them at home when they visited England and saw the impressive drop of shipping costs when it was done by railroads instead of by carriage, nearly a 60%-70% decrease. The first railroads in America were extremely successful.
Steam Locomotive Impact on American Industrial Revolution Imagine a world where the fastest means of transportation is riding horseback. Without the steam locomotive, that's how life would be. The steam locomotive is a steam train that revolutionized transportation on railways. Despite originating in Britain, railways made a lasting impact in America. The steam locomotive was a major part in the American industrial revolution making transportation easier, cheaper, and faster.
