2. The Railroad’s Role in American History from 1862 to 1920

3. Ways the Railroad Influenced American History Between 1862 and 1920 Ways the Railroad Influenced American History Between 1862 and 1920 Led to marked reduction in Native American population Influenced the outcome of the Civil War Brought in large groups of immigrants United the nation Created a western frontier Promoted the Industrial Revolution

4. As the railroads ran through the Indian Territories, the Native American populations began to drop drastically.

5. The railroads played a very important role during the Civil War, by transporting troops. railroads

6. The Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 gave land grants and loans to the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads so that they could create America’s first transcontinental railroad. Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad companies so that they could create

7. The Central Pacific Railroad Chinese laborers were brought in to build the railroad lines from California to Utah.

8. The Union Pacific Railroad The majority of the laborers who built laborers who built the railroad lines the railroad lines between Nebraska between Nebraska and Utah were and Utah were European European immigrants. immigrants.

9. The railroad companies encouraged farmers from Scandinavian and European Countries to come to America and settle in the West.

10. The railroad united the nation by connecting small town America with the big cities.

11. The Western Frontier grew rapidly as it became possible for the small towns to get the products that they needed from the cities.

12. The railroad promoted the Industrial Revolution.

13. All images in this Powerpoint Presentation are from the Library of Congress American Memory Collection.