The First Transcontinental Railroad

Critical Thinking What problems may have been faced by railroad companies and workers building the Transcontinental Railroad from Omaha, Nebraska to Sacramento, California? (3 minutes) Put ideas in notes!

Why Build a Transcontinental Railroad? Growth of West Coast West Coast gold and silver Shorter trip to move West Connect East with West for business Solidify the Union Achieve Manifest Destiny

Getting Started… Choosing a route Conquering the Sierra Nevada Congress ordered surveys in 1853 Debates between north and south about route No free-state politicians would approve funds for a railroad that would spread slavery Northerners won when South seceded Conquering the Sierra Nevada Giant, rocky, snowy obstacle for the engineers Found a route through Donner Pass in 1860

Getting Started…(cont’d) Gaining government support Needed government cooperation, money, and LAND Government was on board, but occupied by Civil War Who will pay? Big Four (Stanford, Huntington, Hopkins, Crocker) Created and chaired Central Pacific Railroad Thomas Durant Ames Brothers Bought most of the Union Pacific stock

Who Made it Possible? Key Players Theodore Judah Grenville Dodge Both understood the great benefits of a transcontinental railroad Both devoted their lives to making sure the plan was carried out Railroad experts who conducted land surveys, worked with the government, and found investors for railroad Grenville Dodge

What Made it Possible? Pacific Railway Act Passed July 1, 1862 Created Union Pacific to build road from the East and meet the Central Pacific Provided companies 5 alternating plots of land on each side of the road for each mile along the route Allowed $16,000 for each mile of flat land, $32,000 for hills, and $48,000 for mountain terrain Revised in 1864 to allow companies more land and privileges

The Game Plan Central Pacific Railroad Union Pacific Railroad Begin in Sacramento, CA Broke ground January 1863 Union Pacific Railroad Begin in Omaha, NE Broke ground in late 1863 but no tracks laid until 1865 Route along the 42nd Parallel Meeting place: Promontory Summit, UT

Significance of the Railroad Biggest and best engineering project of its time Made the country smaller Helped spur interest in Homestead Act Improved communication The beginning of the end for Native Americans Led to other transcontinental railroads and shorter branches