Chapter 14 Section 2

The Age of Railroads

As railroads spread across the country…

They gained power and influence.

They were given huge land grants by the government.

Sold for PROFIT.1869 The transcontinental railroad was completed

In 1860 30,000 miles of railroads

By 1890 6x that. (180,000).

Rail WorkersEast= Irish and Black

West= Chinese

Treacherous work

In 1888 2000 were killed and 20,000 were injured.

Chinese Railroad workers in the West

Irish Railroad workers from the East

Railroad time

The Pullman Company

PullmanFactory and

Company town

Strict rules.No drinkingNo loitering

Credit Mobilier ScandalPaid 3x the cost of

Abusive rail policies.Fixed prices

The Grange Demanded government control over the railroad

industry.The Granger Laws

Munn v. Illinois and the Interstate Commerce ActGave federal gov’t and states the right to regulate RR’s

in order to protect the public interest.

By 1900- 7 companies owned 2/3 of the nations RR’s.