1. The Union Pacific vs The Central Pacific
The Railroads:
The Union Pacific vs The Central Pacific

2. Railroad Acts of 1862 & 1864
Made the Transcontinental Railroad possible
One mile wide of land on alternating sides of the railroad to the companies
Need to connect the nation and encourage settlement of the West
GREAT way to make your fortune!!!

3. Two Companies: The Union Pacific: The Central Pacific:
Started from the East: Omaha. Nebraska
Led by Thomas C. Durant
Started from the West: Sacremento, California
Led by Leland Stanford

4. Beat the competing railroad to a common point in the American West
The Challenge:
Beat the competing railroad to a common point in the American West
The Challenges:
Finding workers
Mapping the route
Addressing the Native Americans
Geography: Deserts, Mountains...

5. Your Turn!
Beat the other side to overcome the greatest engineering challenge in U.S. history*
*to that point

6. Your Turn!
I will present each company with 3 challenges:
Your company must choose the best course of action
Multiple answers may be possible
I will rate the success of each team’s answer
The effectiveness of your answer determines how far your railroad progressed after each answer.
The CEO of each railroad will give me the final answer of your company.
Beat the other side to overcome the greatest engineering challenge in U.S. history*
*to that point

7. Challenge No. 2: Geography
What route will your railroad take?
Through the mountains -How?
Through the desert How?

8. Challenge No. 2: Geography
What route will your railroad take?
Through the mountains 1 Point+
Through the desert Point+

9. Challenge No. 1: Workers Who will you get to work for your railroad?
U.S. Factory Workers
Civil War Veterans
U.S. Farmers
Immigrants
Native Americans

10. Challenge No. 1: Workers Who will you get to work for your railroad?
U.S. Factory Workers 0 Point
Civil War Veterans Points
U.S. Farmers Points
Immigrants Points
Native Americans Points

11. Challenge No. 3: Native Americans
How will your company address Native
tribes in the West?
Make deals with each tribe
Have the U.S. government clear the land
Use Natives for additional labor
Hire mercenary protection

12. Challenge No. 3: Native Americans
How will your company address Native tribes in the West?
Make deals with each tribe Point
Have the U.S. government clear the land 3 Points
Use Natives for additional labor Points
Hire mercenary protection Points

13. How the West was REALLY Tamed:
The ACTUAL story of the Transcontinental Railroad

14. The Race to the Finish
In the rush to complete the railroads, both companies used... questionable tactics.
Illegal funds were used by both companies
Political maneuvering and monopolizing the market
Corners were cut during construction
Near the end, both railroads were nearly building in circles before they agreed on a place to meet and finish!...WHY???

15. Completion The railroads met at Promontory Point, Utah in 1869.
The Union Pacific traveled farther due to the open desert landscape
The Great American Competition ended in success

16. WHO’S MISSING?