Asked by Kaileigh
How did the transcontinental railroad affect US commerce?
The railroad decreased commerce by making shipping more expensive.
The railroad increased commerce by making shipping easier and cheaper.
The railroad led to major corruption in business, which hurt commerce.
The railroad decreased commerce by making trading posts disappear.
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The railroad increased commerce by making shipping easier and cheaper.
It linked East and West, greatly cut travel time and freight costs, opened national markets for farm and manufactured goods, and stimulated industries (steel, coal, timber) and settlement. (There were also negative effects — e.g., corruption scandals like Crédit Mobilier and displacement of Native peoples — but the overall effect on U.S. commerce was a large increase.)
It linked East and West, greatly cut travel time and freight costs, opened national markets for farm and manufactured goods, and stimulated industries (steel, coal, timber) and settlement. (There were also negative effects — e.g., corruption scandals like Crédit Mobilier and displacement of Native peoples — but the overall effect on U.S. commerce was a large increase.)
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