The railroads opened the way for the settlement of the West, provided new economic opportunities, stimulated the development of town and communities, and generally tied the country together.
Early American railroads were instrumental in shaping the nation's economic landscape, promoting westward expansion, and influencing various social and cultural aspects of American life. They transformed the United States into a more interconnected and industrialized nation.
Common place terms like “on the right track” or “wrong side of the tracks” were the result of the railroads. Because of a need for trains to have a common schedule, time zones and a standardized time reference was established.
