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The Pony Express was the iconic American express mail service that revolutionized communication in the 19th century. It used a relay system of couriers on horseback to deliver mail quickly across the varied terrain of the Americas.
The Pony Express symbolized the process of America's westward expansion. America's western expansion was driven by new economic opportunities and the acquisition of farmland, especially the discovery of gold in California and Nevada. Many people moved west because they saw new opportunities for life and success in the West. The U.S. government, through the Homestead Act, also offered land in the West at low prices, attracting farmers and pioneers to the West. This westward migration and expansion was also based on the belief in "Manifest Destiny." This was the belief that Americans had a destiny to cross the continent and reach the Pacific Ocean. The Pony Express was established to fill the need for rapid information and communication during this rapid population movement westward.
The idea for the Pony Express was simple yet clever. Stations with new horses and riders were set up and spaced out; when one rider reached a station, another would take over, designed to ensure that the mail would not be delayed. This relay system greatly reduced mail delivery time, completing delivery of over 1,900 miles in just 10 days. Until the advent of the telegraph, this was the fastest method.
The technology of the telegraph and the expansion of its network was a major revolution in communications in the mid-19th century. Developed by Samuel Morse, the telegraph, using Morse code, had the ability to transmit messages almost instantaneously. This technology made long-distance communication much faster.
During the heyday of the Pony Express, the telegraph network was rapidly expanding throughout the U.S. In 1861, the transcontinental telegraph was completed, which enabled messages to be transmitted from the East Coast to the West Coast of the United States in a matter of minutes. This was a speed that could not be compared to the 10-day delivery time of the Pony Express.
With the completion and spread of this telegram network, the value provided by the Pony Express service was greatly diminished. With the availability of telegram services that allowed for instantaneous communication, people no longer felt the need to use the horse-drawn express service. As a result, in 1861, the Pony Express ceased operations after only 18 months of operation.
