C18 S1 The Mining Booms  Creation of new states.  Construction of the transcontinental railroad.  New wave of settlement.  Benefited industry. What were the causes and effects of mining booms in the West?

Chapter 18 Opening the West  In 1858 gold was found at Pikes Peak in the Colorado Rockies.  The discovery brought about 50,000 prospectors to the gold fields of Colorado.  In 1859 the Comstock Lode, found one of the world’s richest deposits of silver ore is discovered in Nevada.  Gold and silver strikes created boomtowns.  As the quantities of gold and silver decreased, miners began looking for other metals, like copper, lead, and zinc. Gold, Silver, and Boomtowns

Railroads Connect East and West  Because railroads were so important, the federal government agreed.  It gave subsidies, or financial aid and land grants, to the railroad companies; 130 million acres of land.  States and communities also offered subsidies to make sure railroads were built in their areas. Railroad companies asked for free land on which to build tracks.

 This would cross the continent and connect the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.  In 1869 the railroad was completed. The two sets of tracks met at Promontory Summit in Utah Territory.  Railroads brought workers to the West, they also carried metals, produce, and manufactured goods. People saw the need for a transcontinental railroad.