Why did railroads have a greater impact on American society than did canals and steamboats? Canals and steamboats did not connect farmers to cities. Railroads cost less to build and trains provided faster transport. People enjoyed riding on trains more than on steamboats. The government funded railroad construction.
rail roads had a great impact on society because they were a faster way of transportation and they could go from state to state. while on the other hand steamboats were slow and could not go straight through the country.
