First, they made settlement of the West possible after the Civil War by connecting farmers (and miners, ranchers, loggers, and others) to markets.
Second, railroads helped to integrate different regions of the country economically.
They lost the stock and all money associated with it.
I know that some things that are in the naturalization process are:
Knowledge of the presidents, Knowledge of basic math/reading and writing.
He was criticizing their teachings and practices.
