1. Transcontinental Railroad
Stephanie Fuhrmannek

2. Cowboys 1865-1885 were the “hay days” for the American cowboy
About 1/3 were Mexican or freed slaves
Their job was to get cattle (cows) from the ranches to the railroads so they could be shipped East for food.
Cattle were worth $4 each in Texas and $40 each back East.

3. Most Homesteaders were Farmers
They didn’t want cattle drives coming through their farms and trampling their crops.
Wood was scarce, so fences were rare
When barbed wire was invented, it was cheap to produce and farmers started fencing with it.
This caused cowboys to have to make long detours around farms.

4. Transcontinental Railroad
The transcontinental railroad linked the resources of the West with the people and factories back East.
The railroad was built mostly by Chinese and Irish immigrants.
It led to more and more railroads being built throughout the West.

5. Benefits and Costs Cowboys: Native Americans:
Benefit- provided a way to sell cattle
Cost- as there were more railroads, cattle didn’t need to be taken as far, most cowboys lost jobs
Native Americans:
Benefit-None
Cost- disturbed buffalo herds, led to more settlers and forced removals

6. Benefits and Costs Homesteaders/exodusters:
Benefit- Ability to buy and sell goods
Cost- segregation for exodusters, towns without railroad stops often died
Coolies/Chinese and Irish Immigrants:
Benefit- jobs
Costs- low pay, dangerous work

7. Time Zones
People needed to know when trains were arriving and departing (leaving) for safety reasons and so people wouldn’t miss the train.
Standard time was created for the railroads and is still used.
When it is 5:00 pm here in the Eastern Time Zone, it is 4:00 pm in Alabama and 2:00 pm in California. It gets earlier as you go West, because the sun rises in the East first.

9. Why do you think they aren’t in straight lines?