Developments in Transportation Bring About Economic and Social Change in the United States in the Period 1820-1860

The article, “Creating the System: Railroads and the Modern Corporation”, informs us all about the development of the transcontinental railroad and how it helped drive the nation west and also transformed western North America into a economy that had many opportunities. The railroads have always interested me when it comes to this period of time. What I learned from the reading that I didn’t know before was that the Western railroads were primary carriers of grain, other agricultural produce, livestock, coal, lumber and minerals. Also seeing the prices that the farmers shipped their products for, and what they paid for the freights rates was very interesting. Overall, if the railroads wouldn’t have been built in a time when there was so little

What once took 20 days for wheat at $100 per ton to be transported from western New York State to Albany, now took only 10 days at $5 per ton for the wheat to be transported the same distance (Keene, 264). The success of the Erie Canal caused even more canals to be completed across the country. About the same time that the Erie Canal was completed the first railway began running in England. In the year 1830, a steam-powered train was successfully tested by the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. As a result, American quickly began creating their own railroads and by the year 1840 the amount of railroad mileage was higher than that of the canals (Keene, 264). The railroad greatly decreased the amount of time it took for certain goods to be delivered. With each new invention of transportation, people were amazed but the invention of the railroad caused the most amazement. People were able to get from one part of the country to the other even faster than before. The intellectual elements of 1815-1848 greatly improved the way of life. Goods were transported faster and more efficiently. People were able to travel from one place to another in about half the time it usually

During the Antebellum Period, America had tremendous growth in its economy. America was a new country and industrialization just began developing in the north. Various methods of transportation accelerated industrialization by moving goods and people quickly, efficiently, and cheaply. “Transportation was the most important business in the 19th century,” T.J Stiles told “History”. “When opportunities presented themselves they almost always were in transportation.” Americans living in the North could access cheaper crops from the south while those in the South could purchase farming tools for cheaper prices because of how easy it was to transport items. People who were responsible for improvements of transportation were Cornelius Vanderbilt, Dewitt Clinton, and John Loudon McAdam. They greatly influenced America’s railways, canals, and turnpikes.

These two methods of transportation proved to be beneficial to the states by facilitating westward expansion in the North and Northwest. Similarly, the migration of Norwegians (Doc 3), Germans, and Irish established diversity in the states, which in turn influenced the way of life maintained in Missouri and other states. Coincidentally, the unparalleled prosperity of the nation (Doc 6) coincided with the cultural diversities and flourishing arts, as well as tranquility, contentment, and happiness exhibited by the population. The several modes of transportation facilitated the growth of society and settlement in the

The Transcontinental Railroad was one of the most ambitious engineering projects, economic stimulants, and efficient methods of transportation in the early United States. If completed, the United States would be truly be united from east to west. The purpose of this paper is to examine how the Transcontinental Railroad helped develop new opportunities for many aspects of American life.

An astounding invention in the nineteenth century transformed America. Towns sprang up where only barren land had once been, families reconnected and and crossed the continent together, and immigrants poured into the Land of Opportunity. Few technological advancements had enough influence to impact so many people and places, but the Transcontinental Railroad was one of those rare cases. From 1863 to 1869, the Railroad expanded over the continent. This project had many unforeseen effects, whether social, economic, or political. The Transcontinental Railroad affected America the most socially by changing travel for the average American, uprooting the American Indians, and leading to more prejudice against immigrants.

As the population of the West soared and the prospects of statehood for western territories appeared clearer and clearer, the nation battled over the future of slavery in the West. This battle was one reason for the Civil War, which slowed the acceleration of expansion. However, the last three decades of the nineteenth century saw the return of accelerating expansion due to the successful struggle to contain the Plains Indians in reservations, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869. By the

The transportation revolution contributed in many ways to the development of a national market economy in the United States. With the United States expanding farmers needed a way to ship and trade goods in a faster more affordable way. Interior roads such as rail roads and toll roads were to expensive. For transporters water transportation was better, it provided easy access to different areas of the country and was more affordable. The Canal Boom and the Erie Canal were by far the best form of transportation created, they both allowed easy access to port side cities and also lowered the cost of not only shipping but also products and goods.

Transportation began to fuel the American economy during the Market Revolution by adding many different ways to transport goods and to get around the country. These roads were made of mud, which happened to be quite an issue during the different seasons. In the spring,all roads turned to mud, in the summer all roads were dust and in the winter these roads were snow and ice which made it difficult to travel on. The national road was made and was the only road funded by the national government, all of the other roads were funded by private investors. The national road opened up travel through the East and the West, which began to help foster a national community. Canals were starting to expand from not only running North and South, but creating ways to get East and West as well.The farmers began an eight year long project, which was taken over by Irish immigrants and they created the Erie

Soon other lines followed throughout the country. Railroads affected almost every aspect of American life. The rapid spread of the railroads provided the basis for a tremendous westward movement of population. It also carried raw material to, and finish product from factories to consumers in a more efficient way (The USA online, n.d.). The railways became highly profitable business for their owners.

Business growth on both sides of the country was expedited by a new form of cheap distribution into profitable, expanding markets. Easy transportation facilitated the concept of business travel and expansion on an unprecedented scale. However, some of the largest impacts of the Transcontinental Railroad can be seen through the cross­country exchange of ideas. Before the railroad existed, the only fast exchange of information was written through the pony express. The Transcontinental Railroad created an outlet of communicating new ideas and information in person. A smooth and swift cross­country exchange of people and ideas not only made America more infrastructurally sophisticated ­­ it acted as a foundation for the Western United States to grow from very little to the political, social, economic, and technological center that it is today.

“Before the building of the Transcontinental Railroad, it cost nearly $1,000 dollars to travel across the country. After the railroad was completed, the price dropped to $150 dollars.”(History.com Staff). Prior to the railroad the average citizen of America could not afford to travel across the country cheaply. America waited for a means of transportation which would connect them from the Western to Eastern states. The responsibility of creating the railroads were left up to construction companies. Once this invention was created, traveling became quick, easy and affordable. The Transcontinental Railroad could be defined as the most significant change in America, during the 19th Century.

This passage is all about transportation and how it has affected and transformed the United States. In doing this I will explain how transportation has affected the United states and our lives.

The use of railroads brought about a surge in economic and social development from the 1800’s to the present day. Railroads remain a major transportation service provider today for many commodities, as railroads remain the cheapest and most viable options for such commodities.

Throughout American history transportation has evolved to play an integral role in shaping society. In an ever changing world, transportation has helped and will continue to help shape history. From the midnight ride of Paul Revere to the very first plane, technology has changed to meet the ever increasing needs of the American Society. This evolution of American transportation in history and continues to define the continuing eras of American history. Through trials, failure, and perfecting, American inventors have shaped transportation in an ever-changing way throughout history and on into the future of America.