In the context of the passage, the expression shrink means that the soldiers withdraw from the confrontation and the circumstances related to the crisis in the middle of the American Revolution. These soldiers were called sunshine patriots because they only supported the loyal patriots when they were winning. This was George Washington’s huge problem trying to maintain soldiers active during the Revolution.
Europe’s many railroads are widely used for transportation, leisure, and tourism. In general, railroad travel and transportation are very popular in Europe.
It would be because as a result in a change of a cultural experience girls are less likely to finish school because their education is not a high priority