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Steamboats
Steamboats were created to service goods and people they were especially important in the north around the Great Lakes where there were a lot of waterways and eventually canals. Steamboats were the main transportation source for many years. -
Railroads
Railroads eventually came to America from the UK. They soon came to be the largest transportation system in the US. They could transport good and people anywhere that they pleased not just across waterways -
Workers
Railroads required a lot of people to build and maintain. They employed all kinds of people usually Chinese and Irish immigrants, poor whites and freemen. They also occasionaly used slaves. The work that these men in laying down the ties for the track was imp. and didn't require much knowledge compared to being a canal/steamboat worker -
The West
Railroads were the key to the west being able to travel quickly as there were less rivers in the arid Southwest. Railroads could be laid over the ground and cross any kind of territory. -
Living In Luxury
At first many people didn't want to travels west especially the upper class because of dangers. Many peole feared attacks from Indians or foreigners (Mexicans) and traveling by wagon was often dangerous. Many steamboats also weren't as nice because people might be sea sick. When they developed trains these were perfect for the rich class because they were safe and relatively nice compared to other modes of transportation.
