Rolling in Change

The railroads caused huge changes to occur in the United States, especially from the 1830's onward.  Three big changes I see are the rise of capitalism with more hierarchies and managerial capital, more productivity and innovation, and more connectedness between rural and urban areas.

This was a great business investment because there was a need for them and growth was expected.  With more workers and managers, natural hierarchies developed.  Managers and directors had the most power, and the workers very little (Cronon 81).  Also, because those at the top could make a fortune, several were corrupted and even lead their companies to lead monopolies (Klein 27).

The train and the rail were relatively new technology.  With every innovation and improvement, goods and people could travel farther, faster, safer, and more comfortably from place to place (Klein 27).  Since this new productivity meant tighter schedules, people's view of time changed.  Rather than going off of natural patterns and cues for time of day, the town clocks were all set to the appropriate time.  Also, time zones were introduced (Cronon 74).

As part of the Industrial Revolution, rails helped to connect rural and urban areas.  Farmers who may have never seen a train before could use it to sell goods much easier and quicker.  Some people, especially those in rural towns, were wary and skeptical of the expansion of rails.  It was seen by some as ominous and unnatural, despite it being constructed by people (Klein 20).

Overall, trains made American society work faster, more efficiently, and with more connections than ever.  These changes proved to be too fast for some who were used to their rural setting and old-fashioned lifestyle.