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US History: Spiconardi

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Origins In order to connect the newly expanding West with the rest of the country, the federal government wanted to extend the railroads To encourage the building of railroads the government offered 10 sq. miles of land for every mile of track built 10 sq. miles Loans Public land for that actual track routes Why would the government want a connected rail system so badly? What benefits would a transcontinental railroad bring America?

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Origins Central Pacific & Union Pacific Leland Stanford won the right to build the tracks from Sacramento, CA eastward. This railroad was called the Central Pacific Railroad Dr. Thomas Clark Durant won the right to build the tracks from Omaha, NE westward This railroad was called the Union Pacific Railroad

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The Workers The Central PacificThe Union Pacific Used Chinese workers to build its tracks (80% of work force) Imported over 7,000 men from China Also used African-American laborers Used Irish construction workers to build its tracks

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The Workers Working Conditions Hazardous Snow storms Avalanches Cutting through mountains Low pay Chinese railroad workers laying track in the snow

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Completion (sort of) Dateline: May 10, 1869. Promontory Point, UT In a ceremony, the two railroad lines were connected by a golden spike The Transcontinental Railroad was complete Actually railways connecting Sacramento and Omaha were complete

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Effects of a Transcontinental Rail System Time Development of standard time zones Government adapted railroad time as the national time

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Effects of a Transcontinental Rail System Economic growth Cattle Beef could now be shipped to consumers in the East Agriculture Farmers could transport their crops to all parts of America Steel Increase in production due to need for steel rails Coal production Growth of Municipalities Cities like Los Angeles, Kansas City, Seattle, Denver, & Omaha become regional centers