Final answer:
The expansion of the railroad in the West had significant effects on the development of the region. It led to the growth of towns and cities, the establishment of standard time zones, and accelerated industrialization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expansion of the railroad had a significant effect on the development of the West in several ways:
- The railroad facilitated the rapid growth of towns and cities. Examples include Seattle and Denver, which emerged as important centers due to the need for materials to build and maintain the railroads.
- The establishment of standard time zones made interstate business easier. Charles F. Dowd proposed four standard time zones in 1870, which were later revised based on Greenwich-Median time.
- The railroad network accelerated industrialization. It provided a fast, consistent means of transportation, encouraging the development of various industries. The railroad industry itself became the nation's first “big business”, contributing to the growth of virtually every other industry in the country.