Question

What effect did improvements in transportation have on American settlements

in the early- to mid-1800s?

A.) Settlements stayed the same, but people took more trips using the railroads.

B.) Americans began to settle along railroad tracks out in the West.

C.) People and goods traveled by road in covered wagons.

D.) Improved transportation meant freight had to follow rivers or canals.

Answer 1

The correct answer is B) Americans began to settle along railroad tracks out in the West.

Improvements in transportation, like the development of railroads during the early to mid 1800's, allowed citizens to move West of the original 13 states. This era of westward expansion (also referred to as manifest destiny) was one in which the American federal government continued to gain more land in North America either through treaty or war. This resulted in the creation of a transcontinental railroad. This railroad allowed people to move out West to get extremely cheap land and to start their new lives in these newly created cities.