Explain How the Building of the Nation's Railroad Network Stimulated American Industrialization and the Growth of Large Corporations

Joseph Zee

Free Response Essay c, #1

Explain how the building of the nation's railroad network stimulated American industrialization and the growth of large corporations.

        Opportunities and outcomes cannot come to light without the rise of an important cause. Railroads became the important cause in America during the late 1800’s. Beginning in the early 1870s, railroad construction in the United States increased dramatically. Between 1871 and 1900, 170,000 miles were added to the nation's growing railroad system. Much of the growth can be attributed to the building of the transcontinental railroads. With building of the railroads, corporations began to flourish and it provided the people with a better way to make money in that time period. The railroad network spurred the amazing industrialization and growth of large companies during the post-Civil War years. Railroads during the post-Civil War years encouraged transportation of manufactured foods, mining and agriculture in the West, and corporations into making a lot of money.

        The making of fresh markets for manufactured goods stimulated American industrialization and growth of large corporations. Factories, to an extent, were assisted most by the railroad network because it allowed quick transportation of raw materials or necessities to factories. This was a big help in the steel industry. The railroad also helped the markets that aided people by giving them food. America soon became the largest integrated national market area in the world due to the railroad network. The railroad network assisted the fresh market for manufactured goods which in turn were a huge help for the corporations increase in profits.

        The growth of industrialization was immensely supplied by the mining and agriculture of that time period in favor of railroads. Many people were supplied jobs in mining if they needed a way to make money because coal at the time was desperately needed. So workers came from other places by using the railroad network. Farmers were aided by the railroad because it took them to wherever their land was in an easy and quick fashion, and brought them their manufactured necessities. It also helped carry the fruits of their toil to market which was really needed at the time. Farmers loved the railroad so much that their settlements paralleled them for easy access. The growth of industrialization stimulated by the railroads was contributed by mining and agriculture.