The building of the Transcontinental Railroad was finalized on the tenth of May, 1869- and suddenly San Francisco and New York no longer seemed such a long distance from one another. Since its construction, it has long been debated whether or not the railroad left a positive or negative impact on the growth and development of the United States. Supporters cite the improvement of the exchange of intellectual thoughts and ideas and the encouraged and increased growth and business and economy; whereas critics bash our encroachment of Native American property in order to run and build the railroad. Ultimately, when looking at the matter in hindsight, it is clear that the railroad left a more favorable outcome on the progression and advancement of the United States.
The Transcontinental Railroad had a substantial effect on trade within America, and also made the country stronger in the sense that ideas, culture, and thought were no longer kept on one side of the Mississippi. The economy of the United States felt a large surge as the railroad “shipped $50 million worth of freight coast to coast every year” (pbs.org). The …show more content…
The building of the railroad brought thousands of unwelcome white settlers that eventually pushed the Native Americans off their land and onto reservations (“Native Americans and the Transcontinental Railroad”, pbs.org). Additionally, the buffalo, which the Native Americans depended on as their way of life, were dying like flies. This was a result of trains running them over, sport hunters brought over by the train, and the industry itself as they shot buffalo mercilessly for their hides (pbs.org). Opponents of the railroad declare that the ends do not justify the means- that the positive results Americans enjoyed do not justify how they violated the Native Americans to do
The Transcontinental Railroad had a substantial effect on trade within America, and also made the country stronger in the sense that ideas, culture, and thought were no longer kept on one side of the Mississippi. The economy of the United States felt a large surge as the railroad “shipped $50 million worth of freight coast to coast every year” (pbs.org). The …show more content…
The building of the railroad brought thousands of unwelcome white settlers that eventually pushed the Native Americans off their land and onto reservations (“Native Americans and the Transcontinental Railroad”, pbs.org). Additionally, the buffalo, which the Native Americans depended on as their way of life, were dying like flies. This was a result of trains running them over, sport hunters brought over by the train, and the industry itself as they shot buffalo mercilessly for their hides (pbs.org). Opponents of the railroad declare that the ends do not justify the means- that the positive results Americans enjoyed do not justify how they violated the Native Americans to do