How was the development of industry affected by the railroads?
It made commerce possible on a vast scale. In addition to transporting western food crops and raw materials to East Coast markets and manufactured goods from East Coast cities to the West Coast, the railroad also facilitated international trade.
Why were railroads important to the growth of industry?
The railroads were the key to economic growth in the second half of the nineteenth century. Besides making it possible to ship agricultural and manufactured goods throughout the country cheaply and efficiently, they directly contributed to the development of other industries.
What would happen if trains didn’t exist?
If the steam train was never invented, people would have found gold much later. The Gold Rush would have lasted longer because not many people could travel to the west. Also, the gold would have been worth much more if it was found later.
How did the locomotive impact society?
The steam locomotive changed transportation by allowing us to ship goods and travel faster than ever before. It gave us the ability to create new industries and mold transport into what it has become today. The steam locomotive was an icon of the industrial revolution in many countries throughout the world.
What did railroads do to people during the Industrial Revolution?
During the boom, meats began to be mass produced, as they could be shuffled throughout the country in chilled reefer cars. Railroads changed how people worked as well. For many decades, farms had been the mainstay of the majority of the nation. Entire families worked the farms, both to feed themselves, and sell their crops for profit.
When did the construction of the railroads begin?
Beginning in the early 1870s, railroad construction in the United States increased dramatically. Prior to 1871, approximately 45,000 miles of track had been laid. Between 1871 and 1900, another 170,000 miles were added to the nation’s growing railroad system. Much of the growth can be attributed to the building of the transcontinental railroads.
How did the transcontinental railroad affect the United States?
In fact, on May 10, 1869, when the Union and Central Pacific Railroads joined their rails at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory, the entire nation was joined with 1,776 miles of track. The Transcontinental Railroad meant that the frontier could be extended with a greater movement of population.
What was the effect of railroads on Commerce?
Stimulated Commerce. Whereas an item might not have had enough demand in a local town to warrant production, the railroads allowed for the shipment of goods to a greater area. The expansion of the market allowed for greater demand and made additional goods viable.