1. 2. Expansion of the Economy
Impact of the Railroad
5. Working Conditions
Dangerous conditions: first statistics in 1888 = more than 2,000 deaths and 20,000 injuries
Many were immigrants
The Central Pacific (West) Chinese and Hispanic
The Union Pacific (East) Irish, African Americans, Civil War Veterans
Discrimination:
Chinese worker = $35 per month
Average white worker = $40 – 60 per month plus meals
1. Root Causes
Abundance of resources like coal, oil and steel because of new inventions like the Bessemer Process) = cheaper and easier resources to use.
Post-Civil War demand for consumer products required shipping.
Government support like free land to R.R. companies
2. Expansion of the Economy
provides jobs building and running R.R.
Encourages the growth of related industries like steel, coal, and lumber.

2. 3. Expansion of Rail Network 1856: to the Mississippi River
1869: west (Transcontinental)
1870 = 57,000 miles
1890 = 167,000 miles
Between cities - trunk lines, which were rail lines that branched off from the main track.
4. Urban Expansion and Commerce
Cities develop where railroads were built
Mass transit expands size of cities
In rural areas R.R. become center of shipping for crops and livestock (cattletown)
Railroads promoted trade and interdependence between different parts of the country; towns began to specialize for example Chicago meatpacking
Migration & Immigration
Looking for jobs
Immigration to US to work on RR
South to NORTH migration by African Americans
Increased western settlement because Homestead Act gives 160 acres in the West for free if its farmed for 5 years

3. Signaling system and the compressed air brake (Westinghouse)
9. Political Upheaval
“Granger laws” passed at state level to try to stop railroad corruption
Railroads sue states in Munn v. Illinois (1887); Supreme Court upheld Granger laws.
Interstate Commerce Act (Congress 1887): right of the federal government to supervise RR that cross state lines. It created the ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission) to regulate RR
ICC had very little real power to stop monopolies by 1900 only 7 companies controlled 2/3 of railroads
8. Monopolies
Rail travel and shipping should have become faster and less expensive except in the case of monopolies which were taking advantage of consumers
7. New Inventions
Standard gauge rail: all tracks the same width and all trains made to fit this width (4’ 81/2”).
Signaling system and the compressed air brake (Westinghouse)
Luxury cars (Pullman)
Refrigerated Freight Car
Time Zones: 1869, by Professor C. F. Dowd. 24 time zones divide the earth’s surface. Begins in 1883.

4. 2. Expansion of the Economy
Notes: Ch 14, section 2: Impact of the Railroad
5. Working Conditions
Dangerous conditions: first statistics in 1888 = more than __________________ and _____________________________
Discrimination:
Many were _______________________
The Central Pacific (West) ___________ _________________________________
The Union Pacific (East) ____________
_________________________________
Chinese worker = $_________________
Average white worker = $__________ per month plus meals
1. Root Causes
Abundance of ___________ like coal, oil and steel because of new inventions like the Bessemer Process) = ____________________ resources to use.
Post-Civil War _____________ for consumer products required shipping.
Government support like _________ to R.R. companies
2. Expansion of the Economy
jobs ____________________ R.R.
Encourages the growth of _______ ______________ like steel, coal, and lumber.
4. Urban Expansion and Commerce
_______________________ develop where railroads were built
Mass transit expands size of cities
In _____________ areas R.R. become center of shipping for crops and livestock (cattle town)
Railroads promoted trade and ______________ between different parts of the country; towns began to specialize like Chicago meatpacking
3. Expansion of Rail Network
1856: to the __________________
1869: west __________________
1870 = ___________________
1890 = ___________________
Between cities - ______________, which were rail lines that branched off from the main track.
6. Increased Western Settlement
Migration / immigration for _________________
______________________ gives 160 acres in the West for free if its farmed for 5 years
7. New Inventions
Standard _________ rail: all tracks the same _________ and all trains made to fit this width (4’8.5”).
Signaling system and the compressed ___________________(Westinghouse)
_______________________ (Pullman)
______________________Freight Car
_______________: 1869, by Professor C. F. Dowd. 24 time zones divide the earth’s surface. Begins in 1883.
8. Monopolies
Rail travel and shipping should have become ______________
______________ except in the case of monopolies which were taking advantage of consumers
9. Political Upheaval
“____________________________” passed at state level to try to stop railroad corruption
Railroads sue states in _______________________ (1887); Supreme Court upheld Granger laws.
_________________________ (Congress 1887): right of the federal government to supervise RR that cross state lines. It created the _________ (Interstate Commerce Commission) to _________________RR
ICC had very little real power to stop monopolies by 1900 only ______________ controlled ____________