what role did the transcontinental railroad play in the development of the U. S. economy in the late 19th century

Connecting the two American coasts made the economic export of Western resources to Eastern markets easier than ever before. The railroad also facilitated westward expansion, escalating conflicts between Native American tribes and settlers who now had easier access to new territories.

The railroad established a transcontinental mechanized transportation network that revolutionized the population and economy of the American West. It served as a vital link for trade, commerce and travel that joined the eastern and western halves of late 19th century United States.