The Role Of The Transportation Revolution In The United States

The Transportation period began in the 1800's with vehicles operating on engineering such as steam power locomotives and railroads, which were a huge upgrade from the original horse drawn carriages or horse back ridding. Like most new technology these inventions made life a lot easier and shot us to the current day cars and other transport vehicles.

Over time, transportation has shown to have an incredible impact on the United States. It has revealed to bring about economic and social changes in various ways. In the late eighteenth century ancient methods of traveling were still in use in America and it was often very slow. Americans were aware that if transportation advancement occurred, it would potentially increase foreign trade, increase land values as well as strengthen the American economy. In the mid 1800s it has been determined that transportation advancement has a drastic effect on our

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.

Some of the other areas that were motivated by this movement were in the way we cultivate our goods, the mode of communication and the need for better transportation for goods. During the Agricultural Revolution, the farmers were introduced to a new way of cultivating ten times the area of land that they originally were able to do. The reason was that the greatest invention of this period came along and was introduced as the steel plow. Another area that made a drastic change was in the way that society received communication with the telegraph. This concept would ensure that individuals would receive political news, the price of goods or when merchandise was available within moments of it being sent over the wires. However, there was still a need for technology changes that would increase production and transportation. Although it took several years to complete the Transportation Revolution, still it was the start of transporting goods in a more efficient manner. This new technology would help to upgrade steamboats for the new canals being built, and later the development of railroad engines and cars for faster travel using the new railroad tracks, In fact, by 1860 they had laid more than thirty thousand miles of train track throughout the

The Era of 1800 to 1860 proved to be some of the most technologically advanced years of the 19th century. This Era saw a rapid technological change in communications, travel. Through these advances helped the United States grow and prosper. Communication was now possible from the most populated to the least populated areas of the country. Telegraph wires stretched from north to south and east to west. The introduction of the Pony Express allowed the physical movement of mail from the east to as far west as California and as far North as Wyoming. Transportation was at its heyday, via water, rail or land, people moved across the country faster than any other time in history. This era showed

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

New advancements made an influential impact on the U.S. economy and led to its initial success. The rail business expanded greatly after the Civil War. Transcontinental lines linked the East and West and by 1870, railroads could carry goods and passengers from coast to coast. Railroads served as a cheaper way to transport goods and

Nevertheless, the railways helped the United States financially and it represented the lift in global and mainland exchange. The exchange of merchandise was presently less demanding and substantially faster than the customary method for secured wagons. Merchandise brought into the United States internationally on the West coast could get to the East Coast quicker and more proficient. This preferred approach for transporting merchandise extended markets and took into account less expensive conveyance, and expanded potential outcomes of new associates and ideas in business. Thus, becoming an expedient and productive approach to transporting goods in the economy.

The transportation, market, and communications revolutions of the early nineteenth century changed the livelihood of the citizens in American society. These changes were supported by both the government and the business leaders who wanted the American society to develop economically. In what became known as the American system, these leaders worked to implement a national bank, protective tariffs, as well as improved transportation and communication sectors. The changes that were implemented led to various technological advances and also brought about a different way to conduct business practices. Before changes were made to the economy, the American society was not as productive.

Among the many positive effects of the transcontinental railroad are the following improvements: faster and safer transportation from coast to coast, boosts in international and intercontinental trade, faster spreading of ideas and expansion of the United States into areas not previously settled. Negative effects existed as well. More intrusion on Native Americans took place, and there was a rise in racial tensions in the nation. As the transcontinental railroad began operation, changes came fast and furious in America.

Theodore Roosevelt once said, "It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things." This was a theme in business in the late 1800's. The early American economy was made up of small markets, centered around big cities. The immense expansion of the railroads in the late 1800s changed this, tying the country together into one national market, where products could be shipped across the country. Railroads also provided a massive development in economic growth because they provided such a massive market for goods and opportunity for distribution for products such as steel, lumber, and other vital goods. With the help of railroads, the United States developed a rapid expansion of the

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.

With the fast pace America was growing in the 18th century there was a need to be able to travel a long distance. It took almost six months and cost nearly $1,000 to travel between California and New York at the time, thats worth to about $25,000 present time. After the transcontinental Railroad was established, it cost $150 and took one week to travel. This created a nationwide network that united the new nation of America that replaced decades of using horse powered wagons to travel. Furthermore, it allowed the transportation of larger quantities of raw material or good over a great distance in a short time. This made it possible to get a wider verity of goods for people to obtain. Thus, created a two-fold effect on products that permitted

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.

The United States grew into a global industrial power between the 1870’s and 1900’s. encouraging this spectacular growth was the transcontinental railroads, steel, technological advancements, and innovations. Railroads linked regional markets into national markets (383). Likewise, railroads themselves aided in the development of a massive new market for raw materials and new technologies. The transcontinental railroads further open settlement west by decreasing the travel time. The railroads allowed the ability to outsource and transport materials across the country.