US History: Spiconardi

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?

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

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

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

Completion (sort of)  Dateline: May 10, 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

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

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