The Importance of the Railroad and Reasons for the Topic Selection
Railroads are the most efficient and affordable form of transport on the mainland due to their reliability in transporting bulky goods, non-perishable products, and chemicals for long distances. Since their inception, railroads have evolved to accommodate charcoal, steam, and super-fast electric trains. However, rails constitute the most widely used form of transport for goods and people because of reduced expenses and lower service requirements than trucks and cars.
The Historical Context of the Railroad’s Emergence
Railways were first introduced into England in the 17th century to solve friction issues in heavily loaded road vehicles. In the US, railways were built in 1764 by a British engineer known as Captain John Montressor for military reasons at the Niagara Port in Lewiston (Salsbury, 2019). Subsequently, railway construction unraveled several opportunities, allowing more people to move inland and assist in mapping the continent (Berkin et al., 2014). Agricultural development, frontier settlement, and increased exploitation of natural resources were some factors that expedited construction and allowed other sectors to flourish.
Railroad construction in the US increased dramatically in the early 1870s. Before 1871, about 4500 miles of railroad tracks had been laid down. Another 170,000 miles of track were built between 1871 and 1900 (Salsbury, 2019). However, much of rail construction during this period is owed to the establishment of transcontinental systems. The US Congress passed the Pacific Railway Act in 1862, which focused on expanding and improving the quality of transcontinental railroad systems (Berkin et al., 2014). These railroads played a major role in connecting the Pacific Coast with the Eastern States, thus encouraging continuous developments in these areas.
The Railroad’s Significance in the Broader Study of History
The establishment and evolution of railroads in the US are vital to learning history because they shaped the nation’s development. Railroad construction in the 19th century facilitated westward expansion, allowing industries and developers to venture into new territories. In addition, intercontinental railways were a driving force for the industrial revolution, economic growth, and trade. Additionally, railroads impacted social and cultural development due to their contribution to the growth of cities and towns. Therefore, railroads had a transformative implication on America’s history and can allow historians to gain insight into the forces that helped shape the US.
References
Berkin, C., Miller, C., Cherny, R., & Gormly, J. (2014). Making America: a history of the United States. Cengage Learning.
Salsbury, S. (2019). The emergence of an early large-scale technical system: The American railroad network. In The development of large technical systems (pp. 37–68). Routledge.