Final answer:
A transportation revolution through roads, canals, and particularly railroads, linked the United States and supported the addition of new states into the Union. These advancements were pivotal for the nation's industrialization, population movement, and territorial expansion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Significant because it formed a transportation system for the region and created a system for bringing new states into the Union. The transportation revolution, characterized by the advent of steamships and railroads, greatly impacted the United States during the 19th century. Not only did it bind the country with an extensive network of roads, canals, and railroads, it facilitated the movement of populations and was integral to the country's rapid industrialization. The creation of a national market system was propelled by railroads and the telegraph, while the industrial age saw the establishment of significant industries primarily in the northern states. In contrast, the southern states were known for their large plantations reliant on slave labor. The transportation system played a crucial role in adding new states to the Union, especially with the Louisiana Purchase doubling the nation's size and the subsequent push westward. Railroads contributed to the settling of territories and were directly linked with the confiscation of Native American lands.