Question

How did railroads influence the growth of western territories?

Answer 1

Hint: In the late nineteenth century, several factors inspired American colonists and refugees to move west. People were also attracted into the West by the discovery of precious metals and minerals.
Complete answer: In the era from about 1760 to sometime between 1820 and 1840, the Industrial Revolution, now also known as the First Industrial Revolution, was the transition to modern production methods in Europe and the United States.
 In some western states, miners have found gold, silver and copper. But the railroad was the largest contributor to the growth of the West. Federal, state, and local governments, willing to facilitate trade and transport, granted land to railroad companies. Between 1860 and 1880, the companies used the land to triple the miles of railway track in the United States, all while making a clean profit selling surplus land to settlers and speculators. The railways opened the West not only to towns but also to the world market, allowing meat and crops to be exported to distant cities and even across oceans. The railroads also transformed time themselves to do so in 1883, by splitting the United States into four time zones, the railway companies coordinated their schedules, which are still the norm today.

Note: The progress of the Industrial Revolution relied on the ability to move raw materials over long distances and finished goods. During the Industrial Revolution, three main forms of transport increased: rivers, highways, and railroads. During this period, the roads improved tremendously as well.