by Max C

Created on: July 12, 2010   Last Updated: July 13, 2010

Between 1820 and 1860, transportation sparked several social and economic changes in the United States, which would in turn open up much of the West for development. The first of these revolutionizing changes was the building of the Erie Canal in 1818. It effectively reduced costs of transportation by 95%, brought New York an unprecedented increase of income, and prompted the settling of Western New York and farther west. Canals in the 19th century U.S. would play extremely important roles in delivering goods faster. Another more far reaching mode of transportation was the railroad. Railroads crisscrossed the country, and would end up being the key factor, connecting East and West. It enabled both economies to merge and become stronger and also opened up Western Territory to be settled.

The first of these revolutionizing changes was the building of the Erie Canal, or just canals in general. Canals effectively decreased time from production to consumer as well as increased income for many. Canals, though not as extensive as railroads did, helped spur western expansion. Canals though only caused expansion to occur mostly in the Eastern United States. While their positive influences on American Society are undeniable, the effectiveness of canals on settling the Western United States was severely limited.

Unlike the canal system, the railroads were much more extensive and far reaching. By 1860 in the United States, there were more than 30,000 miles of railroad and the tracks crossed America to connect the West Coast with East. Railroads enabled thousands of new immigrants from England and Europe to cross over the plains to reach California, in hopes of better lives. Thanks to Railroads, the economies of the Western U.S. and Eastern were linked, a plus for both. Railroads opened up the flow of people, communication, capital, and supplies, which without, the West wouldn’t have existed on as large a scale.

The Social effects of Railroads and Canals on United States citizens and our culture was also widespread, due to the fact that they affected most Americans in one way or another. Most people today have heard of “Low Bridge, Everybody Down,” or have read Mark Twain’s writings on canals. The building of Railroads and Canals also presented thousands of jobs, mostly for a force of immigrants to take up.

Canals and Railroads are a rich part of American history. They helped spur western movement and settlement as well as make several vital connections between East and West. They enabled the movement of goods from two points to speed up as the cost went down. People were now able to traverse huge expanses of territory in only a short period of time. Overall, they were huge contributing factors to the advancement of our economy, culture, and well being as a society and country.

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