how did the transcontinental railroad spur western settlement

The completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad

in 1869 had a huge impact on the West. It encouraged further settlement in the West as it made travelling their cheaper and easier. It encouraged further settlement in the West as it made travelling their cheaper and easier.

Full Answer

What did the transcontinental railroad do for the west?

“What the transcontinental railroad did was bring the West into the world, and the world into the West,” explains James P. Ronda, a retired University of Tulsa history professor and co-author, with Carlos Arnaldo Schwantes, of The West the Railroads Made.

How did the Transcontinental Railroad change America?

Here are some of the ways that the first transcontinental railroad—and the many other transcontinental lines that followed it—changed America. Map of the transcontinental route of the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad and its connections, circa 1883. 1. It made the Western U.S. more important.

What happened to the towns along the transcontinental railroad?

During the railroad’s construction, numerous temporary “hell on wheels” towns of tents and wooden shacks sprung up along the route to provide living quarters for workers. Most of them eventually disappeared, but others, such as Laramie, Wyoming, evolved into towns that provided rail terminals and repair facilities.

How did the westward expansion affect Native Americans?

And the railroad and other rail routes that followed made it easy for large numbers of hunters to travel westward and kill millions of buffalo. That slaughter impacted Native Americans, who had hunted buffalo in moderation, and weakened their resistance to settlement of the west.

How did railroads encourage Western settlement?

Between 1870 and 1900, not only did the railroads attract settlers from nearby states, but also brought 2.2 million foreign immigrants to the trans-Mississippi West. Desiring quick payment of loans, railroads encouraged these settlers to grow and sell cash crops.

Why was the railroad system important to westward expansion?

Why was the Transcontinental Railroad important to westward expansion? The Transcontinental Railroad made it faster to travel east and west and to move goods and food from coast to coast.

What discoveries attracted settlers to the West in the late 1800s?

Developing the WestA variety of factors enticed American settlers and immigrants to head west in the late nineteenth century. ... The discovery of precious metals and minerals also drew people to the West. ... But the greatest contributor to the development of the West was the railroad.More items...

How did the completion of the transcontinental railroad change the lives of American citizens?

How did the completion of the transcontinental railroad change the lives of American citizens? It shortened travel time between the East and West for all Americans. Due to the railroads, American settlers were able to travel west in larger numbers.

What were the 5 reasons for westward expansion?

What were 5 reasons for westward expansion?free land railroad gold and silver adventure and opportunity cattleWhat were some challenges the cowboys faced on the long drive?Violent storms, wind, rain, moving rivers, stampedes, rustlers, hot sun, discrimination, and 15 hours on the saddle38 more rows

When was the Transcontinental Railroad important to the westward expansion?

By 1880, the transcontinental railroad was transporting $50 million worth of freight each year. In addition to transporting western food crops and raw materials to East Coast markets and manufactured goods from East Coast cities to the West Coast, the railroad also facilitated international trade.

What were four reasons settlers moved west?

Suggested Teaching InstructionsGold rush and mining opportunities (silver in Nevada)The opportunity to work in the cattle industry; to be a “cowboy”Faster travel to the West by railroad; availability of supplies due to the railroad.The opportunity to own land cheaply under the Homestead Act.More items...

How did railroads affect the western settlement in the late 1800s?

Which part did railroads play in western settlement in the late 1800's? Railroads provided jobs, brought in immigrant settlers, and connected markets.

What were some reasons American settlers wanted to settle the West?

Settlers flocked to the Far West for many reasons. They sought adventure, farmland, an escape from the constraints of civilization, and new starts. California was attractive because of its climate and the fact that the Spanish and Mexicans had begun to organize the territory through the mission system.

What happened as a result of the transcontinental railroad?

Just as it opened the markets of the west coast and Asia to the east, it brought products of eastern industry to the growing populace beyond the Mississippi. The railroad ensured a production boom, as industry mined the vast resources of the middle and western continent for use in production.

What was the impact of the transcontinental railroad?

The Transcontinental Railroad reduced travel time from New York to California from as long as six months to as little as a week and the cost for the trip from $1,000 to $150. The reduced travel time and cost created new business and settlement opportunities and enabled quicker and cheaper shipping of goods.

What were benefits of the transcontinental railroad?

The transcontinental railroad transformed the American economy. The railroad rapidly shipped resources such as coal, timber, precious metals and even cattle from west to east and opened up new markets for the goods produced in eastern factories.

What was the impact of the railroad?

Railroads became a major industry, stimulating other heavy industries such as iron and steel production. These advances in travel and transport helped drive settlement in the western regions of North America and were integral to the nation's industrialization.

What were the effects of railroad expansion?

Railroads created a more interconnected society. Counties were able to more easily work together due to the decreased travel time. With the use of the steam engine, people were able to travel to distant locations much more quickly than if they were using only horse-powered transportation.

Which change in the West was brought about by railroad expansion?

Which change in the West was brought about by railroad expansion? The mining and cattle ranching industries increased in the West.