The railroad industry also helped to pour money into America’s economy. The railroad industry helped raise economic standards and change the way from an economy based on agriculture to an agriculture base on machinery. The railroads united America as a whole. It was the driving force of the industrial revolution that brought America together as a unity. The industrial revolution wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t for the railroad industry that changed not only the people but, the country as a whole for the next fifty years.
From the late 17th century to the early 19th century, industrialization was occurring in the United States and around Europe. The abundance of raw materials and the ambition of business men caused the industrialization before and after the Civil War. The First Industrial Revolution and Second Industrial Revolution, known as the Technological Revolution, caused the United States to thrive throughout those years because of population increase and all the new products or ideas there was. In the 1900s, the United States became the leading industrial power in the world because of both revolutions; the first revolution led into the second revolution because of the technology and economic changes occurring. The First Industrial Revolution changed agriculture customs and the Second Industrial Revolution caused changes in production techniques, but both helped the United States industrialize and become the most successful country in the world.
The Transcontinental railroad could be defined as the most monumental change in America in the 19th century. The railroad played a significant role in westward expansion and on the growth and development of the American economy (Gillon p.653). However, the construction of the transcontinental railroad may not have occurred if not for the generous support of the federal government. The federal government provided land grants and financial subsidies to railroad companies to ensure the construction. The transcontinental railroad contributed to the formation of industry and the market economy in America and forever altered the American lifestyle.
The Railroad Boom The main reason for the transcontinental railroads to be built was to bring the east and west together. The building of these railroads caused huge economic growth throughout the United States. The railroad created opportunities for everyone across the US. "Railroads were the first big business, the first magnet for the great financial markets, and the first industry to develop a large-scale management bureaucracy. The railroads opened the western half of the nation to economic development, connected raw materials to factories and retailers, and in so doing created an interconnected national market.
The railroads had influenced the American economy growth in a huge impact in a way that, it helped in transportation, easy access of raw materials to markets and factories. In addition, in the 1880’s there were 150,000 miles of railway tracks that raised the national economy. Additionally, oil discovery had began in Pennsylvania and had helped runned trains and planes. LastlyLastely for technology, there was also development of airplane which aided in transportation. Technology had
Carnegie's steel lead to a national growth, accelerating the rate of America's industry as it already was. Steel was the main focus of production of America, and it lead to more jobs, national usage, and a higher quality of life. Without Carnegie's thrive for the production of steel America would not be where it is today. As the profits grew for the leaders of the nation's top industries, they were able to donate large amounts of their money to make America even better. Especially two men named John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie, "Rockefeller donated more than half a billion dollars to various educational, religious and scientific causes.
The invention of the lightbulb alone meant factories could be open and running for 24 hours to satisfy the increased demand for material goods. The expansion of businesses and factories enabled the building of highways and canals which in turn offered the citizens an increased standard of living and ... ... middle of paper ... ...men to have easy access to Pacific markets combined in the late 1890s to convince the president, Congress, and a vast majority of Americans that a canal linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans was vital to national security and prosperity. The potential involvement of Spain in the destruction of the battleship “Maine” was the push that redirected America’s focus expansion abroad and overseas. This brought American imperialism to influence political and military contention creating a strong naval force, economic competition with other industrial nations, such as Great Britain Belgium, & France. Although the advancement of industrialization brought forth the advent of technology that contributed to most facets of growth within the United States, Imperialism secured the channels which allowed the sustained growth of the power house we refer to as the United States.
Britain's Ability to Establish Itself as the Workshop of the World During the period of 1780 to 1846, Britain established itself as the world's largest industrial country, or in the words of a journalist from the time the 'Workshop of the World'. Britain produced many raw materials, which were used for industry, in Britain and throughout the world. As a result of trade Britain became a very wealthy country. Prior to 1780 Britain realised the beneficial factors it could develop to become a well organised, industrialized society. Trade and overseas trade was the biggest of factors, which allowed Britain to establish itself as the 'Workshop of the World', but other factor included mechanisation and transport.
They were used for employment, the carrying of freight, and transportation in all parts of America. Americans became dependent on railroads and they were improving them whenever they could. It can be said that Americans would never know a world without railroads again. The invention of the railroad drastically changed the way the United States came to be. The railroad, like any other great invention, evolved from something small to a technological advancement.
In the First World War America lent millions of pounds to countries like Britain they would then be paid back with interest on top of the original money. America also exported many of its good and products such as munitions and natural resources which it had lots of to Britain and France. This was a one way trade system and it gave a real boost to American industry. America got rich while the European countries were busy fighting. America took over British and French markets.