Steam Locomotive Research Paper

Railroads were faster and cheaper than canals to construct, and they did not freeze over in the winter. Steamboats played a vital role in the United States economy as well. They stimulated the agricultural economy of the west by providing better access to markets at a lower cost. Farmers quickly bought land near navigable rivers, because they could ship their products out to other countries. Due to the foreign trade it helped strengthen the trade relationship between New England and the Northwest. The transportation development had many positive economic changes in the United States.

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.

The railways became an important system that guided settlement and delivered economic opportunity for much of the United States. Railroads allowed access to places that people had no means of getting to and provided an opportunity to develop cities and towns

First, the building of railroads out west played a huge part in the successful expansion of our country and the fulfillment of American dreams. Priot to the development of a more efficient railroad system, the movement of people and freight were

Transportation in the United States has changed dramatically in the past few hundred years, from dirt roads, to canals, to railroads, and back to roads to again. Improvements in transportation between the years 1820 and 1860 allowed for almost all of America to be accessible which caused the US economy to explode. Transportation turned the U.S. into a flourishing economy and caused a large increase in sectionalism, industrialization, and expansion.

The Transcontinental railroad impacted America most economically due to the fact that it encouraged trading among the states. With the railroad up, states now had a faster way of getting their products in and out. People could get materials not native to where they were living in a matter of days by rail instead of weeks or months by wagon. In document F it states the economical impact that the railroads have had on our imports and exports. Even now we still use the tracks to export and import things like in 2014 the U.S imported 12.3 million tons of metals and exported 100.1 million tons of coal by rail. Since the railroad was very appealing to the American people, more were inclined to ship out their products by rail and by doing so helping the States collect more on taxes and the people with a fast and better way of transport.

The railroad system improved the US economy by allowing for mass imports and exports. In 2014 alone, the US was able to export 32.7 million tons of chemicals and petroleum,

New technologies improved agricultural and industrial productivity. Growing cities provided markets and workers for industrial businesses. Products were allowed to reach distant markets because of improved railroad

The next way the transcontinental railroads would change America is economically. These railroads would not only be a faster way to travel but you would also know the exact price to get from one place to another. Even though the price of a ticket wasn’t super cheap by any means, it would be all you have to pay. They would also change America economically because the shipping market rates were decreased because there was more transportation with the

When the railway had not yet existed the majority of transportation took place by wagon. It is said that traveling by wagon actually costs approximately twenty times more than traveling by rail (Doc E). As stated in Document E, traveling by rail cost less than a tenth… than it would by wagon. Therefore, a more efficient transportation route was created; this meaning that the railway was less costly, much more agile, and also safer than the traditional, inconvenient

The canal and railroad systems, which grew up in the North, facilitated a much larger volume of trade and manufacturing while reducing costs a great deal. Great cities sprang up throughout the North and Northwest, bolstered by the improvement in transportation.

Railroads became extremely popular in America in the 1800’s. The railroad industry itself began to boom; it was supported by its reputation for speed and efficiency. But, along with the booming industry of railroads came the strong debate that

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.

In 1500 the first trip across the pacific was recorded. This created possible growing links to every major society. (Ch 4 stearns) The industrialization of steam boat engines led to a vast expansion of transportation. The Panama Canal was also a large benefit that instigated innovative technology for ships throughout the globe.

In addition with the invention of the steam engine came the steam locomotive. As the development of steam engines progressed through the 18th century, various attempts were made to apply them to road and railway us. In 1812 Matthew Murray was the first to build a successful steam locomotive, and it hauled 27 carts of around 95 tonnes at 3 mph. Accompanied with this came Richard Trevithick’s 40 psi steam locomotive, The Penydarren Locomotive, “the world's first ever railway journey that ran 9 miles from the ironworks at Penydarren to the Merthyr-Cardiff Canal, South Wales.” This creation lead to many more innovations, which will lead to speedy land travel for goods and products.