The early development of railroads started the transformation of America into the mobile society that it became. Trains encouraged travel. An example of the effect of an early railroad is the Charleston & Hamburg in South Carolina. Before the railroad had been built one two seat stage coach serviced the 50 travelers a month who traveled between the two towns. The railroad carried 2,500 passengers a month.

The railroads slowly but surely transformed almost every aspet of life and commerce in the United States. The railroads allowed farmers to sell their goods in distant markets, and allowed news to spread rapdily from city to city. Returning home for a visit was no longer an a difficult journey. The railroads began the assault on distance that continues to this day.

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