Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byMarcia Fox Modified over 9 years ago
1
The American Railroad
2
In 1850, steam-powered ships provided much of nation’s transportation Before Civil War, most railroad tracks were short lines in the East Limitations included: –No standard track width –Unreliable brakes –Lack of standardized signals
3
Miles of Railroad Track in the United States 1840 – 3,000 1850 – 9,000 1860 – 30,000 1916 – Over 250,000 (peak mileage) Today – 170,000
4
Transcontinental Railroad Authorized by Pacific Railway Act of 1862 Lines already reached west to the Mississippi River New rails would be laid between Omaha, Nebraska and Sacramento, California Government incentives were crucial to the tracks’ construction
5
Why were incentives needed? Private investors saw no likelihood of profit in building RR beyond line of civilization Congress believed a coast to coast track would strengthen economic infrastructure Awarded huge loans and grants to railroads (Pacific Railway Acts)
6
Central Pacific began laying track eastward out of Sacramento Union Pacific began laying track westward in Omaha Most workers were immigrants –Irish workers on Union Pacific –Chinese on Central Pacific Two sides met in Promontory, UT on May 10, 1869
12
Land Runs Beginning in 1889, several “land runs/rushes” occurred “Unassigned” (surplus) lands in Oklahoma Territory “Boomers” registered at local land offices, then rushed at a given time to stake their claim
13
Oklahoma Land Run of 1889
Similar presentations
© 2024 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.