Transportation innovations, like canals, railroads, and improved roads, changed how people moved around the United States in the 1800s. Here are four main impacts:
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Faster Travel: Trains and canals allowed people to travel much quicker than before. This made it easier for families to move to new places for jobs or land.
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Cheaper Shipping: Better transportation lowered the cost of moving goods. Farmers could send their crops to cities, leading to more jobs and encouraging people to migrate to rural areas for farming.
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Growth of Cities: As transportation improved, more people moved to cities for work in factories. This caused cities to grow rapidly and attracted even more people looking for jobs.
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Westward Expansion: With new railroads and roads, more people moved west to explore new lands. This led to the settlement of areas like California and the Great Plains, making them more populated.
In short, these transportation innovations made it easier and cheaper for people to move around the country and find new opportunities.