Final answer:
Railroads had a significant positive impact on the United States by transforming the economy, promoting urbanization, and bringing national unity. Nonetheless, there were negative aspects, including economic corruption and labor exploitation. The positive impacts are often viewed as outweighing the negatives due to railroads' role in economic development and expansion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Addressing whether railroads and their business practices had more of a positive or negative impact on the United States involves balancing various factors. On the one hand, railroads transformed the U.S. economy by the late 19th century, making them the dominant mode of transport and facilitating the emergence of a national market system. This expansion prompted the growth of various industries, spurred urbanization, and created a unified economic and political framework for national governance.
However, the expansion of the railroad industry also brought along significant negatives, including economic corruption, such as the Crédit Mobilier scandal where construction company executives overpriced the project, leading to government officials being bribed. Furthermore, rapid industrialization led to labor exploitation, with factory conditions being dangerous and unsanitary, and it contributed to the upheaval of Native American communities. The political and economic ramifications required government intervention for standards and oversight.
In summary, while railroads had many positive impacts in terms of growth and unity, they also had negative impacts associated with corruption, labor issues, and societal displacement. Nonetheless, the overall influence of railroads during their height of development in the 19th century tends to be viewed more positively for their role in the economic transformation of the United States.