The industrial revolution marked one of the most important periods in history. Before the Industrial Revolution, there was a significant disruption in almost every process in the United States, where it often took months to send packages, letters, or any type of information across the country. As a result, the transportation revolution dramatically accelerated 18th-century development, which dramatically transformed largely rural societies into industrialized and urban societies, both in America and Europe. As a result, skillfully hand-operated goods began to be produced in mass quantities through machines in factories. Nonetheless, the industrial revolution began in Britain and spread to the rest of the world around 1830. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The expansion of the Industrial Revolution was influenced by the ability to transport raw materials and finished products over long distances. There were three elements that transformed transportation: waterways, roads, and railways. Before these developments, transportation relied on animals and boats, but in the 17th century there were numerous problems regarding the condition of the roads. The United States followed its own path to industrialization, spurred by innovations derived from Great Britain. By the mid-19th century, industrialization was well established throughout Western Europe and the northeastern region of America. By the early 20th century, the United States had become the world's leading industrial nation. A symbol of the Industrial Revolution emerged in the early 1700s, when Thomas Newcomen introduced the first modern steam engine. Newcomen's invention was previously useful for powering machines used to pump water from mine canals. In 1760, Scottish engineer James Watt produced the first efficient steam influenced by Newcomen's model, adding a water condenser that made it more efficient. Once put to consumption, his discovery became a source of energy for the transport of goods. Similarly, Robert Fulton built the first steam engine to start a steamboat, and in 1807 he demonstrated its use by traveling from New York City to Albany via the Hudson River, leading to the introduction of steamboats to the United States , enabling the transportation of goods across the Atlantic Ocean in the 1800s. In 1928, John Stephenson created the first effective steam locomotive entitled "Rocket". After its construction, the railway boom exploded throughout Europe and the United States. This was crucial for the United States as it required long-distance travel. In 1840, the United States had approximately 3,000 miles of railroad track. Before the Industrial Revolution, citizens depended on rivers to transport goods. Boats could easily travel downstream using the current, however, travel upstream was more difficult. This drawback was solved by Robert Fulton's steam engine, making travel upstream easier. Cities were connected by canals that made internal navigation faster and easier. During this time period, transportation through water was the economical way to move heavy products, and canals were widened to allow boats to pass. The most significant canal built in the United States was the Erie Canal which connected Lake Erie to the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean. It was finalized in 1825 and developed a base of trade and travel from the western states to New York. This led to the growth of agriculture and national markets, also known as the market revolution. Steamboats were..