The steam engine was very important to the development of the United States. The steam engine powered the locomotives that would make train travel possible. The North had more railroads than the South due to more investment and a larger supply of laborers. This ultimately allowed the North to win the Civil War due to its ability to move troops and supplies more efficiently than the South. After the war, train travel allowed the United States to populate its western regions more easily, especially after the nation completed the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869.

The steam engine was important for water travel as well. Steamships first become important on rivers and lakes, but they made the United States a growing player in international commerce as well. Steam engines allowed ships to move more efficiently against the current, and this allowed for faster travel to and from major cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans. Steam travel made internal improvements in the United States a major issue, as steamship lines insisted that the rivers of the United States be regularly dredged for obstructions.

Aside from slavery, internal improvements were one of the key issues of the antebellum United States. Steam engines made the United States more efficient and a growing player in international commerce.

The steam engine had a significant impact throughout the United States. Regarding transportation, the steam engine made it easier and quicker to transport products by water. This made it easier for farmers in the South to get their products to the marketplace in a timely manner. The steam engine also helped with the development of the railroad system, as the steam engine powered the trains, which allowed both people and products to be shipped faster to their destination. As the railroad system grew, the United States was also able to expand across the continent, further impacting the growth and prosperity of the American economy.

The steam engine allowed the American factory system to grow as more machines were used in the factories. The steam engine also impacted the location of the factories. Prior to the use of the steam engine, factories needed to be located near rivers so they could use the rivers to provide the power to run the machines. With the development of the steam engine, factories no longer had to be located near water, as the steam engine could power the machines.