1.  Why was the Transcontinental railroad built?  How was it built so quickly?  What were the major railroad companies and who owned them?  Why did the Transcontinental railroad promote economic growth?

2. 1. 2. 3. 4.

3. The Railroads

4.  Land Grants: a grant of land by the federal government for railroads to b built.  Railroad companies sold the land to settlers, real estate companies, & other business to raise money to build the railroad.

5.  The great wealth many railroad entrepreneurs gained led to accusations  Many built there fortunes on swindling, bribing and cheating.  These owners became known as robber Barons  Jay Gould was infamous and the most notorious railroad owner

6.  Credit Mobilier Scandal : A construction company set up by several stockholders of the Union pacific railroad, including Oakes Ames, a member of Congress.  They overcharged and added miles to Union Pacific and paid it without question  This scandal lead to investigations of congress members, but no criminal charges were ever filed.

7. Take on the role of an Employee of a major railroad corporation. Your job is to create an advertisement to recruit workers for your company. Must be one of railroad companies in this section, Union Pacific, Central Pacific, or The Great Northern and it must appeal to a certain people group, Irish or Chinese immigrant, Civil war veteran, Ex convict or the frustrated miner or Farmer. Describe the location your will be working in and the pay wage given. Use your textbook to help you.