Railroad Impact on Texas

Study the images. Which landform created more difficulties when constructing railroads? Use evidence from the images to help you choose an answer.

• rivers

• plains

• Neither had any effect.

• They were equally difficult.

What is the most likely reason towns developed along railroad lines?

• Crops grow best near railroad tracks.

• Railroad tracks kept bison herds away.

• There was easy access to transportation.

• Moving trains cleaned the air and water.

Which of the following completes the web?

• the invention of the cotton gin

• the development of the railroad

• the introduction of the automobile

• the increased price of land in Texas

Read the passage:

"Many Texas rivers were too shallow for large steamboats to use all year. Horse-drawn coach rides were slow, hot, and dusty. The few roads in Texas that did exist were nearly impassable in wet weather."

How did these conditions affect businesses?

• No one wanted to settle in Texas.

• They had no effect on businesses.

• Cities could not support manufacturing.

• Businesses could not easily transport goods.

Read the passage:

"Before there were railroads connecting it to the eastern states, getting to Texas often took months of travel over dangerous and unsettled areas. ... People ran the risk of getting sick or dying during the journey."

True or False: There was no immigration to Texas before railroads.

• True

• False

Study the population graph. Which Texas city had a population of 20,000 in 1880?

• Dallas

• Galveston

• Fort Worth

• San Antonio

Study the graph. In which year did the amount of track miles grow the least?

• 1870

• 1880

• 1890

• 1900

Why was the Texas state government unable to invest in railroads?

• Cities were too far apart to lay tracks.

• Leaders did not trust new technology.

• State money was used to repay loans.

• The population did not want railroads.

Because of the challenges of early transportation in Texas, which of the following would have been the best solution for improving trade?

• Building more roads regardless of weather conditions

• Increasing the depth of rivers for steamboats

• Developing a statewide railroad system

• Encouraging the use of horse-drawn carriages

How did the introduction of railroads effect the economy of Texas?

• It led to a decrease in agricultural production.

• It increased trade and commerce.

• It had no noticeable effect on the economy.

• It caused a decline in the population.