1. Railroad Expansion In the late 1800’s the railroads became the driving force behind America’s economic and industrial growth 1 st trans RR - 1869 Consolidation Several powerful men known as Railroad Barons had control of RR system

2. Railroad Barons Powerful individuals who controlled RR’s and made lots of money Aggressive, risk takers Gave money away later in life Cornelius Vanderbilt Leland Stanford - Central Pacific No laws regulating RR industry – ruthless methods

3. Railroads Stimulate the Economy Created economic links Carried raw materials to factories; and manufactured goods & farm products to markets Stimulated iron, steel, lumber & coal industries Created thousands of jobs

4. Improving the Railroads RR lines across the country used different gauges, or widths, so trains could not change lines causing gaps in service By late 1800’s most had adopted a standard gauge allowing faster & cheaper shipment of goods Tracks built with iron but then upgraded to steel

5. Railroad Technology George Westinghouse devised air brakes Eli Janney made it easier to connect RR cars Gustavus Swift developed refrigerator cars George Pullman devised a sleeping car (luxury)

6. Competing for Customers 2 kinds-passengers and businesses Most money from businesses Rebates-secret discounts to customers Pools-secret agreements between big RR companies Force smaller RR out Govn’t tried to stop by passing some laws

7. Railroads change America Growth of industry in the West Flour milling to Great Plains Ag equipment to Midwest Beef production –Chicago RR caused shift in population from east to west; rural areas to cites

8. Time Zones People travel more Concerned with hours rather than miles Regions of country were united 4 time zones in the continental USA created Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific

10. Questions How did the RR change life for farmers and ranchers? How did the RR change industry in the USA? How did the RR unite the USA? Which change in RR’s was the most important?