One key to the rise of America's industrial economy was the expansion of railroads. Many historians argue that the North would not have won the Civil War had it not been for its vast network of railroads that carried supplies quickly and cheaply to the Union soldiers. But the the real expansion took place after the passage of the Pacific Railway Acts. Between 1870 and 1900, the amount of railroad track increased by 500%. Railroads affected just about every aspect of American life. They connected raw materials to factories and factories to consumers throughout the nation. Farmers were able to easily transport crops to markets. The 1869 ceremony of the "golden spike" marked the completion of that transcontinental railroad—a benchmark of manifest destiny. Answer the module questions as you watch this video.
The Transcontinental Railroad (Video)
No comments:
Post a Comment