1. C. F. Dowd

3. GILDED AGE: INDUSTRIALIZATION
TOPIC 2
RAILROADS

4. Essential Questions
Analyze how legislation contributed to the growth of a national railroad network.
In which ways did the national railroad network affect commerce, migration, and development of the West?

5. LINKING THE NATION Pacific Railway Act of 1862
Lincoln signed the act, which provided for the construction of a transcontinental railroad by two corporations:
UNION PACIFIC: began laying tracks from Omaha, Nebraska, using primarily Irish immigrants (IOU)
CENTRAL PACIFIC: began laying tracks from Sacramento, California, using primarily Chinese immigrants (CCC)
Joined near Ogden, Utah, at Promontory Point on May 10th, 1869

9. GROWTH AND CORRUPTION
Rapid expansion of the railroad, coupled with little government regulation, allowed some investors to attain great wealth
To encourage railroad construction, the federal government gave land grants to many RR companies: the railroads would sell the land to settlers, real estate companies, and other businesses to raise the capital they needed.
Jay Gould and insider trading
Credit Mobilier Scandal

11. ESSENTIAL CONCLUSIONS
Railroad lines existed mainly in the Northeast and the South prior to Westward Expansion; however, the transcontinental system encouraged migration into the West, a national market system, the development of standard time zones across the nation, and the rise of Robber Barons and corruption in many cases.
Though government supported railroad expansion, it did not regulate the industry.