The Transcontinental Railroad and Westward Expansion Thesis: The transcontinental railroad greatly increased Westward expansion in the United States of America during the latter half of the nineteenth century. The history of the United States has been influenced by England in many ways. In the second half of the 1800's, the railroad, which was invented in England, had a major effect on Western expansion in the United States. "Railroads were born in England, a country with dense populations, short
Expansion of The Railroad in America Railroads made a huge contribution to the growth of the United States, they led to many advances throughout American History. There were numerous matters the railroads effected in American development and the framework of the country. The railroad had positive and negative effects on America as a whole through the growth of the industry, such as; encouraged western expansion, enhanced the economy, recognized railroad monopolies, assisted the Union in Civil War, helped
Blackhawk (NPS). The nation’s first transcontinental railroads were also being completed in the late 1860’s. The Union Pacific Railroad’s transcontinental rail was completed in 1869 originally went through Cheyenne and missed Denver entirely (Denver, H). Denver resident’s raised the needed funds and built their own railroad to Cheyenne and the Kansas Pacific Railroad came directly Denver shortly after (Denver). As a result, Denver became a successful railroad hub by the mid-1870’s that served as the mining
During the 1890’s, the quest began for a ‘New History’ in the United States that would challenge the patient application of the “scientific” method. The 1890 census report had officially stated that the complete settlement of America’s western frontier marked the end of Manifest Destiny. Westward expansion had been an integral aspect of the American identity and its citizen were left wondering what would continue to propel the United States into a rapidly modernizing world. Progressive historian
school for his MBA at Harvard, which allowed him to extensively gain his skills and knowledge about business holistically. The third member of the audit committee is Richard K. Davidson, a retired Chairman and CEO of Union Pacific Corporation. He started working for Missouri Pacific Railroad at the age of eighteen while attending Washburn University- where he got his degree in history. He continued with the company being promoted several times including having responsibilities
century of being an independent nation and was beginning to make the transition from a “home producing” nation to a technological one. The biggest contribution to this major technological advancement was the establishment of the Transcontinental Railroad because it provided a faster way to transport goods, which ultimately boosted the economy and catapulted America to the Super Power it is today. Throughout the beginning of the 19th century, America was still being harassed by her former mother
Transcontinental Railroad, began with the tracks forming from the Central Pacific to the east of Sacramento, where it was completed. The Union Pacific Railroad started building their railroad in 1865, while the Central Pacific Railroad started in 1863. “Congress granted both railroads large tracts of land and millions of dollars in government loans” (The First Transcontinental Railroad 116). The government soon realized that making one huge railroad would take forever, so they made The Pacific Railroad Act.
hammered into the ground, connecting the Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad companies at Promontory Summit, Utah, on May 10, 1869 (American 1). North America became the first continent to be connected by railroad from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast when the Transcontinental Railroad was finished (Gale 1). The railroad was an essential component of achieving manifest destiny. The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad spurred settlement in the American West, encouraged
Colin Ogden Professor Bingley California History 372 2 April 2017 The construction of railroads in California impacted the state physically, socially, and economically; and ultimately helped propel California into the state it is today. During a time when masses of people were migrating to California but were doing so in an inefficient, and sometimes dangerous way, the first transcontinental railroad provided a fast and easier alternative. During the 1850's and 60's California was booming as many
circulated about a railroad that would spread across the continent from East to West. Republican congresses ruled for the federal funding of railroad construction, however, all actions were halted for a few years on account of a war. Following the American Civil War of 1861-1865, the race to build transcontinental railroad began in 1866. Lincoln approved Pacific Railway Act of 1862, granting two railroad companies the right to build the first American transcontinental railroad, (Clark 432). The transcontinental
Chinese Labor Contribution to the Central Pacific Railroad In port cities of China, leaflets distributed by labor brokers said, “Americans are very rich people. They want the Chinamen to come and make him very welcome. There you will have great pay, large houses, and good clothing of the finest description. Money is in great plenty and to spare in America.” And so thousands of Chinese flocked from China to America, in search for work in the gold mines. After the profits from gold mining
The Transcontinental railroad could be defined as the most monumental change in America in the 19th century. The railroad played a significant role in westward expansion and on the growth and development of the American economy (Gillon p.653). However, the construction of the transcontinental railroad may not have occurred if not for the generous support of the federal government. The federal government provided land grants and financial subsidies to railroad companies to ensure the construction
transportation and various forms of cargo began to rise in the United States of America, a group of railroads with terminal connections along the way began to form across the land mass of this country, ending with the result of one of the most influential innovations in American history, allowing trade to flow easily from location to location, and a fast form of transportation, named the Transcontinental Railroad. America at this time consisted of overland travel and ocean travel. The journey all the way
in efforts of going from “rags to riches” to obtain the American dream. One particular group of laborers the Chinese went to pursue a dream in the west by working on the transcontinental railroad system. This paper will reveal experiences and discriminationsthat Chinese laborers faced while working on railroads during the Westward Expansion era in hopes of overcoming poverty. The pursuit of a comfortable living or wealth caused a lot of men to venture into the West leaving behind his or her homeland
did attitudes toward the Chinese immigrants during the building of the transcontinental railroad differ from those towards Irsih immigrants? To assess the attitudes toward the Chinese immigrants, this study focuses on the building of the transcontinental railroad in the United States in the second half of the nineteenth century. This study investigates the views, tasks given during the building of the railroad, and benefits given to the Chinese and Irish immigrants and the impact of their work on
Carson,Scott Alan. “Chinese Sojourn Labor and the American Transcontinental Railroad.” Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics JITE J Inst Theor Econ 161.1 (2005): 80-102. Web In this paper by Scott Alan Carson, Carson writes about Chinese Sojourn Labor. Carson writes how institutional arrangements and labor market forces that interacted in the construction of America’s railroad led to the demand for Chinese Laborers. Carson writes more about these relationships and the work given
Jay Gould Essay Jay Gould was a financial mogul during the Gilded Age. He was among the wealthiest men in America because of his works as a railroad developer and speculator. He was also a financier, which was at that time, a person who made a living from investing large amounts of money in order to get money back. He was also a considered by many Americans as a Robber Baron. Unlike the likes of John D. Rockefeller, he did not have a wealthy background. His mother and father did not have a lot of
Who were Hugh Allan, Dash Domi, Karlheinz Schreiber, Jacques Bureau, Pierre Sevigny, Wanda Liczyk, and Jacques Corriveau? Sir Hugh Allan Grant was a shipping magnate that was involved with bribery in The Pacific Scandal of the 1870s. He competed for the bid to the build the Canadian pacific railway and paid former Prime Minister, John A Macdonald a sum of $360,000 towards financing his party’s election campaign in exchange. The liberals discovered the scandal, which eventually led to the resignation
Richard Wright's Big Boy Leaves Home Richard Wright’s “Big Boy Leaves Home” addresses several issues through its main character and eventual (though reluctant) hero Big Boy. Through allusions to survival and primal instincts, Wright confronts everything from escaping racism and the transportation (both literal and figurative) Big Boy needs to do so, as well as the multiple sacrifices of Bobo. Big Boy’s escape symbolizes both his departure from his home life and his childhood. Big Boy, unlike
well as the transcontinental railroad. Railroads were significant for the nation as it transported settlers, miners, and resources back to factories in the East. Railroad construction dramatically expanded as it linked distant regions of the