Essay Question: How did the introduction of railroads change American politics?

What will be an ideal response?

Answer:
The introduction of railroads changed American politics. On the surface, their lobbyists could dominate legislatures. On a deeper level, the changes were more profound. Congress had always selected nominees before presidential elections, but now trains brought delegates to national party nominating conventions, changing the way candidates were picked. Trains enabled all sorts of associations to have national meetings, and the rails spread issues that might in an earlier era have remained local. The movement to give women the vote succeeded after Susan B. Anthony took trains to all parts of the country, spreading her rhetoric and unifying the cause.