What effects did railroads have on ranching and farming in west?

Answer 1

cultural- more people move west since it's easier to on a train-more big cities appearing in the West and Midwest, adventurous spirit in the States as people hear stories of the West, people embrace Manifest Destiny because of how prosperous the nation is getting with these railroads

economic- cities near railroads prospered, most cities that weren't failed, food grown in the Midwest could now be transported to large urban areas like New York where food was harder to find, therefore reducing the price of food; new industries regarding railroads like coal and iron got big very fast and gave people jobs, more people were moving west because it's easier, so land prices go up

political- many people oppose government subsidies on railroads, so different parties emerge regarding that, Manifest Destiny embraced by more people seeing the good expansion and railroads do for the economy

social- people were able to go on longer and farther vacations, able to get items not readily available in their areas like fresh meat, vegetables, and gold, people were able to get work farther away from home, more people decide to turn to subsistence farming because its so easy to move now

environmental- pollution from coal burning, overgrazing because of railroads allowing cowboys to raise cattle in Midwest, overcutting lumber since more and more people are moving West, habitat damage when land is cut through to make way for railroads, burning of prairie to turn it into suitable wheat-growing land causes land to lose minerals and vital nutrients

Answer 2

The railroads had a huge beneficial effect on ranching and farming in the west by offering a cheap, handy, long range method of transporting crops and animals easterly to the population centers.