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The Impact of the Railroad

The Impact of the Railroad. Riding the Rails. Focus Question. What role should government take in the economy?. Objectives:. After today’s lesson, you will: Describe the role played by the government in the development of the Transcontinental Railroad

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The Impact of the Railroad

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  1. The Impact of the Railroad Riding the Rails

  2. Focus Question • What role should government take in the economy?

  3. Objectives: After today’s lesson, you will: • Describe the role played by the government in the development of the Transcontinental Railroad • Describe the issues faced in building the Transcontinental Railroad • Describe the impact of the railroad on the U.S.

  4. Factors of Industrialization • Natural Resources • Labor • Capital • Transportation Networks • Markets • Technological Innovation • Land

  5. Industrial Growth • The late 19th Century saw an explosion in Industrial Growth in the U.S. • Vast supply of capital from war profits • Stronger financial system in U.S. (National Banking Act) • Expansion of higher education through the Morrill Land Grant Colleges

  6. Transcontinental Railroad • Finally came into being through the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 • Connected Omaha to Sacramento • Chartered two companies: the Union Pacific RR the Central Pacific RR

  7. Role of the U.S. Government • Required heavy assistance from the government • Distances too vast • Required too much money for any one company • Could not be built without government aid

  8. Massive Subsidies Both received heavy subsidies • Massive land grants • Right of way along tracks • Ten square miles for each mile of track laid • Loans • $16K per mile in the plains • $32K per mile in the plateaus • $48K per mile in the mountains

  9. Faced Difficulties • Maintaining a workforce • Union Pacific hired largely Irish • Central Pacific hired largely Chinese • Protecting workforce from attack

  10. Physical Difficulty • Faced vast distances in the Plains • Faced the rugged Sierra Nevada

  11. The Meeting • Met at Promontory, Utah, on May 10, 1869

  12. Sponsored New Industries • Cattle Industry and Cowboys • Lumber Industry • Shipping Industry and Mail Order Houses • The Steel Industry

  13. Transformed Society • Brought settlers and trade west • Promoted city growth • Led to the development of time zones

  14. Summary • Explain, in your opinion, how the Transcontinental Railroad affected the U.S.

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