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Transcontinental Railroad:

US History: Spiconardi. Transcontinental Railroad:. Why would the government want a connected rail system so badly? What benefits would a transcontinental railroad bring America?. Origins.

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Transcontinental Railroad:

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  1. US History: Spiconardi Transcontinental Railroad:

  2. Why would the government want a connected rail system so badly? What benefits would a transcontinental railroad bring America? 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 • Loans • Public land for that actual track routes

  3. 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

  4. The Workers The Central Pacific The 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

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

  6. 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

  7. Effects of a Transcontinental Rail System Do you know how figured the time before this? • Time • Development of standard time zones • Government adapted railroad time as the national time

  8. 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

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