Technology and Resources
The Age of Railroads Chapter 14 Section 2
As railroads spread across the country… They gained power and influence. They were given huge land grants by the government. Sold for PROFIT. 1869 The transcontinental railroad was completed In 1860 30,000 miles of railroads By 1890 6x that. (180,000). Like Microsoft and Google
Rail Workers East= Irish and Black West= Chinese Treacherous work In 1888 2000 were killed and 20,000 were injured.
Chinese Railroad workers in the West
Irish Railroad workers from the East
Railroad time
The Pullman Company Pullman Strict rules. Factory and Company town No drinking No loitering
Credit Mobilier Scandal Paid 3x the cost of Abusive rail policies. Fixed prices The Grange Demanded government control over the railroad industry. The Granger Laws Munn v. Illinois and the Interstate Commerce Act Gave federal gov’t and states the right to regulate RR’s in order to protect the public interest. By 1900- 7 companies owned 2/3 of the nations RR’s.