The American West – 1800’s The Railroad
RR – Expanding into the West In years after the Civil War, RRs were the largest single business in the nation! In years after the Civil War, RRs were the largest single business in the nation! both state & fed. govts. offered incentives to RR companies both state & fed. govts. offered incentives to RR companies RRs encouraged settlement by making it easier & cheaper to move west RRs encouraged settlement by making it easier & cheaper to move west RR provided a faster & cheaper way to ship goods RR provided a faster & cheaper way to ship goods Railway construction increased jobs for immigrants Railway construction increased jobs for immigrants
Transcontinental RR Goal: connect the East to the West Goal: connect the East to the West Would improve communication & allow travel across the country Would improve communication & allow travel across the country Central Pacific + Union Pacific = Transcontinental RR Central Pacific + Union Pacific = Transcontinental RR
Pacific Railway Acts The federal govt. passed these so RR companies could afford labor & resources; using loans & land grants The federal govt. passed these so RR companies could afford labor & resources; using loans & land grants In exchange, the RR companies would carry U.S. mail & troops (soldiers) at reduced rates. In exchange, the RR companies would carry U.S. mail & troops (soldiers) at reduced rates.
Labor = Immigrants Chinese immigrants made up most of the labor for Central Pacific (entered through Angel Island) Chinese immigrants made up most of the labor for Central Pacific (entered through Angel Island) the other = Irish immigrants for Union Pacific the other = Irish immigrants for Union Pacific Why hire them over white Americans? Why hire them over white Americans? Because companies could pay them less Because companies could pay them less Why did immigrants take the job? Why did immigrants take the job? Because it still paid more than what they could get in their home country Because it still paid more than what they could get in their home country
Problems with the transcontinental RR Mountains – Sierra Nevada in CA; rocky mtns. Mountains – Sierra Nevada in CA; rocky mtns. Explosives – dynamite (used to break apart the mountain’s rocks); dangerous to workers (snow drifts & falling rocks) Explosives – dynamite (used to break apart the mountain’s rocks); dangerous to workers (snow drifts & falling rocks) Weather – Great Plains; ex. Tornadoes Weather – Great Plains; ex. Tornadoes Food – because workers were in remote areas, providing food & supplies became a problem Food – because workers were in remote areas, providing food & supplies became a problem Buffalo Bill – killed 1000’s of buffalo to feed workers Buffalo Bill – killed 1000’s of buffalo to feed workers
RR Impact in the West Population Boom – get more people there faster & safer Population Boom – get more people there faster & safer Economic growth – get supplies there faster Economic growth – get supplies there faster Communication – telegraph lines Communication – telegraph lines
SUMMARY QUIZ TIME QUIZ TIME nnCNM nnCNM
1. What was built to connect the east to the west? 1. What was built to connect the east to the west?
2. Which group of immigrants was used by the Central Pacific Railroad Company? 2. Which group of immigrants was used by the Central Pacific Railroad Company?
3. Which group of immigrants was used by the Union Pacific Railroad Company? 3. Which group of immigrants was used by the Union Pacific Railroad Company?
4. What law created a competition between two companies to build one big railroad out west? 4. What law created a competition between two companies to build one big railroad out west?
5. Name one problem with building the Transcontinental Railroad. 5. Name one problem with building the Transcontinental Railroad.