Railroad Westward Expansion From 1860 To 1890

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Reuben Ackarie Professor King History 102 25 Feb 17. Railroad Westward Expansion from 1860 to 1890 The history of America is grounded in the concepts of immigration, expansion, and economic growth. When European settlers arrived along the East Coast, they developed a new doctrine called the manifest destiny that would guide their path (Manifest). The project to join the East and West Coast; which once could be considered as an impossible task, gradually gained steam (pardon the pun). Development of the railroad network spearheaded the process as it opened up new lands, connected major cities, and also enabled agricultural and economic growth (Balliet 8). The railroad not only served as a means of transport but also marked the route for the …show more content…

These small rural towns served by the railroad attracted increasingly larger populations that transformed them into cultural hotspots and centers of learning (Atack and Margo 13). Around the 1870s, Cincinnati and St. Louis had attracted a significant population including workers and farmers (PBS Map). Individuals from different cultural backgrounds mingled and interacted to form a unique culture. Various types of food, music, folklore, literature, language, dressing, farming, buildings, and relationships all combined to create the American identity. By 1890, over ten cities with populations of over 100, 000 people had emerged on the westward expansion route along the railway tracks (PBS Map). It is not hard to fathom that cities by waterways experienced more rapid growth economically and population-wise (Balliet 12). The availability of resources was a simple explanation. With time, these cities and rail transport became major elements of the American …show more content…

Specifically, between 1869 and 1890, it enabled the westward expansion that allowed the creation of more settlements in the Midwestern plains all through to the West Coast. The rail route also served a significant role in designating administrative posts and even urban settlements that later evolved into the major cities. It is a fair statement to conclude, the majority of the factors that make America what it is today including technology, democracy, and culture to include immigration, can all be traced to the westward expansion of the railroad

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