The Impact of the Transcontinental Railroad

The impact of the Transcontinental Railroad, connecting the East to the West, was mainly it's part in opening up the west to settlement and faster transport of goods to the eastern states. With the building of the railroad, people who wanted to settle, or even visit the western territories could go easily and quickly. Towns and cities sprouted along the line, such as Salt Lake City, Reno, and Dodge City.

Trade across the nation increased massively with the building of the Railroad. Before its construction, perishable products, such as food, couldn't be moved from the great plains to the Eastern or Western states, making the Great Plains an unprofitable and inhospitable place to settle. After the railroad was constructed, however, trade became faster and it was easier to make a living in the Plains. Farming communities sprang up all along the railroad and, as it expanded, deeper into the wilderness.

The railroad also helped Americans learn more about their country, and spread ideas from east to west more quickly. This led to a more educated and in-touch population, allowing for more innovation and invention in the US.

While the United States benefited from the construction of the railroad, Indian tribes across the Great Plains suffered. The hunting of buffalo by railroad builders destroyed their main food supply, and many tribes were forced to assimilate to survive. A lot of the time, tribes would clash with the US, resulting in heavy casualties.


ADHD Version: America built a railroad. Good for the economy, bad for natives.