Final answer:
The railroads had a profound impact on Georgia by connecting cities like Terminus (Atlanta) to others such as Chattanooga, enabling farmers to send crops to new markets, and contributing to the post-Civil War economic expansion, despite some Northern control over Southern resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
The impact of railroads on the state of Georgia was significant, particularly after the Civil War during the period of the New South. The city known as Terminus, which would later become Atlanta, was indeed connected to Chattanooga by rail lines, fostering a transportation network that was critical for development. Not only were railroads used to connect cities, but they also facilitated movement of goods. Farmers, for example, utilized railroads to transport crops to new markets outside of the state, expanding economic opportunities and supporting the emergence of a national market system.
Railroads also played a role in standardizing the Southern rail infrastructure that had previously been a patchwork of differing track gauges and private companies, leading to improved efficiencies and further economic growth. However, it was not without consequences, as many railroads in the South after the Civil War were controlled by Northern interests, sometimes exploiting Southern labor.
Overall, the railroads were integral to transforming the United States into a unified, increasingly industrial nation, by promoting mobility of both goods and people, and fostering communication alongside the growth of the telegraph.