THE TAKING OF NATIVE LANDAs the iron horse blazed a trail westward, rail companies organized massive hunts for buffalo.
They hunted herds to near extinction, and destroyed the resource that Native American's had depended on. Not only taking their resources, the railroads also took their land. Although Native American's tried to fight back, they had little success in doing so. TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATIONSThe railroad had technological advancements with it as well. Steel overcame the use of iron. Steel was stronger, lasted longer, and didn't rust as fast as iron did. (Bessemer Process) A new Pullman Luxury Car was also built, for a new comfort of theh railway.
| SCANDALS AND DISPUTESThe creation of the Transcontinental Railroad not only costed a mass amount of money, it caused an influx of people to feel the need to scam others for money, and disputes between who can regulate the commerce of the railroad. The Union Pacific Railroad company managed to get a ridiculous amount of profits off their Credit Mobilier scam. Jay Gould made profit for himself by booming and busting the railroad. The railroad disputes even went as far as getting into courts. In the Munn vs. Illinois, states were allowed to regulate the railroad within certain borders. This case led to the later Wabash vs. Illinois case, where the Supreme Court made a decision that severely limited the right of the states to control interstate commerce. (later leading to the Interstate Commerce Act)
CULTUREThe railroad however impacted culture and society by making it more unified. By connecting it from the east to the west, eastern and western markets could now come in contact more eaily than they could before. With Manifest Destiny completed, the "American Dream" was fully developed. The railroad also created new minor innovations like timezones, and more efficient communication and ways of travel for the Postal Service.
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