Final answer:
The Transcontinental Railroad had a significant impact on America's industrial expansion, immigration, and the transformation of lives and the economy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Transcontinental Railroad was a network of railroads completed in the nineteenth century that stretched across the country and united America by rail. It had several significant impacts on the development of America:
- Industrial Expansion: The railroad fueled another industrial expansion, including steel manufacturing, the telephone, and the light bulb. The western states held vast mineral resources that were transported by the railroads.
- Increase in Immigration: The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad resulted in an influx of immigrants. By the end of the century, fourteen million people immigrated to the United States to work in factories.
- Transformation of Lives and Economy: The development of the railroad led to a transformation from a rural country to urban centers. Craft industries and small shops disappeared as people began working in factories, leading to significant changes in people's lives and the economy.