1. Transcontinental Railroad
Railroad from Atlantic to Pacific

2. Transcontinental Railroad
1850’s - railroad companies began to search for a route from Atlantic to Pacific (transcontinental)
The South wanted it through the South
The North wanted it through the North
the Government chose a northern route

3. Railroads There were two companies who accepted this challenge
It was a competition to see who moved the fastest - the more you built, the more you were paid
The railroad was completed on May 10, 1869
Two more lines were added on in 1883

4. Central Pacific Company
Worked Eastward from Sacramento, California
They relied on Chinese immigrants to help complete their line
They built about 742 miles over a more difficult terrain

5. Union Pacific Company Worked Westward from Omaha, Nebraska
This was at the edge of the already existing U.S. rail network
Relied on Irish and African American Workers
They built about 1,038 miles - terrain was not as difficult

6. Golden Spike
The Transcontinental railroad was completed on May 10, 1869
The two companies joined their two lines with a golden spike ceremony - Pacific Railroad

7. Impact Really helped the economy
Towns sprang up all along the rail lines
Brought a new wave of settlers West - farmers & ranchers
Changed how people measured time
American Railway Association divided the country into 4 time zones in 1883
These were made official in 1918