Beginning of Essay
The development of railroads in the 19th century transformed almost every aspect of human life. They were the first big businesses and created our economy. These changes occurred in a relatively short period of time (about 1830-1875), yet managed to positively ....

Middle of Essay
.... of a train made it possible to send mail, parcels, and perishables across country, thus making possible the rise of the factory system and its system of mass production. No other mode of transportation could handle the bulk shipping necessary for an industrial economy with such speed and efficiency .By 1892 the U.S.'s economy was the largest in the world, and the railroads were critical in that development. As well as the economical benefits of the railroad, it was a crucial element in the settlement of the West. Officers of the Louiseville, Cincinnati and Charleston Railroad Company adopted the metaphor in 1840 that the youthful Eastern cities ....