The completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad
Transcontinental railroad
A transcontinental railroad is a contiguous network of railroad trackage that crosses a continental land mass with terminals at different oceans or continental borders. Such networks can be via the tracks of either a single railroad, or over those owned or controlled by multiple railway co…
How did the transcontinental railroads affect the west?
Map of the four major transcontinental railroads, each bringing vast amounts of demographic, economic, and environmental change to their respective regions. With the aid of the federal government in both massive land grants and financial funding, railroad entrepreneurs and private investors transformed the western United States.
How did the Transcontinental Railroad change the center of America?
The transcontinental railroad did not long remain the sole venue of travel through America's center. Lines spiderwebbed outward from its branch points, conveying north and south the settlers coming west to consume millions of acres of land.
How did the railroad affect the economy of the United States?
Just as it opened the markets of the west coast and Asia to the east, it brought products of eastern industry to the growing populace beyond the Mississippi. The railroad ensured a production boom, as industry mined the vast resources of the middle and western continent for use in production.
What was the transformation achieved in intracontinental trade by the railroad?
However, the transformation achieved in intracontinental trade was substantial. Within ten years of its completion, the railroad shipped $50 million worth of freight coast to coast every year. Just as it opened the markets of the west coast and Asia to the east, it brought products of eastern industry to the growing populace beyond the Mississippi.
How did the Transcontinental Railroad impact the settlement of the West?
Connecting the two American coasts made the economic export of Western resources to Eastern markets easier than ever before. The railroad also facilitated westward expansion, escalating conflicts between Native American tribes and settlers who now had easier access to new territories.
What were the effects of the Transcontinental Railroad?
The Transcontinental Railroad reduced travel time from New York to California from as long as six months to as little as a week and the cost for the trip from $1,000 to $150. The reduced travel time and cost created new business and settlement opportunities and enabled quicker and cheaper shipping of goods.
How did railroads affect western settlement in the late 1800s?
Which part did railroads play in western settlement in the late 1800s? Railroads provided jobs, brought in immigrant settlers, and connected markets. Railroads transported most of the settlers to the West quickly and efficiently.
What was the biggest impact of the transcontinental railroad?
Just as it opened the markets of the west coast and Asia to the east, it brought products of eastern industry to the growing populace beyond the Mississippi. The railroad ensured a production boom, as industry mined the vast resources of the middle and western continent for use in production.
How did railroads change the West?
It made commerce possible on a vast scale. In addition to transporting western food crops and raw materials to East Coast markets and manufactured goods from East Coast cities to the West Coast, the railroad also facilitated international trade.
How did railroads affect western settlement in the late 1800s quizlet?
Which part did railroads play in western settlement in the late 1800's? Railroads provided jobs, brought in immigrant settlers, and connected markets.
Why was the railroad system important to westward expansion?
Why was the Transcontinental Railroad important to westward expansion? The Transcontinental Railroad made it faster to travel east and west and to move goods and food from coast to coast.
What were the positive and negative effects of the transcontinental railroad?
The railroad also gave homesteaders greater access to manufactured goods, as they could be transported easily and quickly across the railway. However, the Transcontinental Railroad had a negative impact on the Plains Indians. They were forced to move away from the railroad despite it running through Indian Territory.
What were the positive and negative effects of the transcontinental railroad?
The railroad also gave homesteaders greater access to manufactured goods, as they could be transported easily and quickly across the railway. However, the Transcontinental Railroad had a negative impact on the Plains Indians. They were forced to move away from the railroad despite it running through Indian Territory.
What was one positive and negative effect of the growth of railroads?
One negative effect were building and running the railroads was difficult and dangerous work. More than 2,000 workers had died. Another 20,000 workers had been injured. A positive is railroads made long-distance travel a possibility for many Americans.
What was one main result of the completion of the transcontinental railroad?
Answer and Explanation: One main result of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad was that the United States became unified. The western territories became connected with the eastern states, pulling the people of the country closer together.
What were some benefits of the transcontinental railroad?
The transcontinental railroad transformed the American economy. The railroad rapidly shipped resources such as coal, timber, precious metals and even cattle from west to east and opened up new markets for the goods produced in eastern factories.
How did railroads help the West?
With the aid of the federal government in both massive land grants and financial funding, railroad entrepreneurs and private investors transformed the western United States. From making locations like Las Vegas, Aspen, Sun Valley and other majorly populated and popular cities possible - in addition to national parks - railroads allowed both the population and preservation of all the west. Constructed in response to the gold rush of the 1850's and 60's, investors and businessmen realized the rush would eventually end and new markets must be explored. Advertising tourism and railway traffic forced railroad companies to align themselves with certain groups with certain values, such as environmentalists. Preserving the untouched and exotic natural beauty of the west, from the southern Grand Canyon to the northern mountains and evergreen forests, railroad companies promoted national parks and conservation. Such promotion also coincided with the new markets of exotic resorts and domestic tourism, a part of a new leisure travel business railroad companies advertised along side newly formed national parks. Subsidized railroad companies in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries were the most important factor in the substantial increase in leisure travel related markets such as national parks, resorts, and the rise of major western cities with the increased accessibility to once isolated and untraversed regions.
Why did Aspen grow?
A product of railway progress much like Las Vegas, Aspen sprouted up in part because of its natural beauty and proximity to railway lines. Both were advertised by railway companies.
What did railroad companies do to preserve the West?
Preserving the untouched and exotic natural beauty of the west, from the southern Grand Canyon to the northern mountains and evergreen forests, railroad companies promoted national parks and conservation.
Why were cities like Las Vegas a possibility?
Although a later advertisement, cities like Las Vegas were a possibility because of the ease of access to them provided by the Central and Union Pacific rails. In addition, irrigation efforts from both the Central/Union and Southern Pacific supplemented the survival and growth of such cities.
When was Yosemite Park opened?
The focal point of the Southern Pacific, Yosemite Park opened in 1864 and advertised by the SP in 1907 via their "Yosemite Valley Rail Line." Natural beauty and vast landscapes became the focus of all railways with all locations seemingly in competition with eachother and their respective rail companies who "owned" them.
When did Yellowstone National Park open?
Opening in 1872 mainly due to the pressure of railroad companies, Yellowstone National Park became a major focal point for the Northern Pacific, who announced their "Yellowstone Park line" in 1880.
When was the Golden Spike built?
Driving in of the Golden Spike in Promontory Summit, Utah on May 10th, 1869 to mark the completion of the first American transcontinental railroad - joining the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads.
What was the impact of the Transcontinental Railroad?
The Impact of the Transcontinental Railroad. On May 10, 1869, as the last spike was driven in the Utah desert, the blows were heard across the country. Telegraph wires wrapped around spike and sledgehammer transmitted the impact instantaneously east and west. In San Francisco and New York, wires had been connected to cannons facing outward ...
What was the railroad?
The railroad was America's first technology corridor. Improved Public Discourse. As it encouraged the growth of American business, so too did it promote evolution of the nation's public discourse and intellectual life.
What was the web of rails?
A Web of Rails. The transcontinental railroad did not long remain the sole venue of travel through America's center. Lines spiderwebbed outward from its branch points, conveying north and south the settlers coming west to consume millions of acres of land.
What happened to the wires in San Francisco and New York?
In San Francisco and New York, wires had been connected to cannons facing out ward across the ocean. When the signal from the spike came through, the cannons fired. The world was put on notice: the transcontinental railroad was completed and America was moving to the forefront of the world's stage. The World Grew Smaller.
What happened in 1890?
By 1890, even the Powder River Valley — the rich hunting ground so hard won by red Cloud and the Oglala Sioux — would be lost. New treaties scattered the Indians to reservations and opened the last great Native American holding to the settlers so steadily branching outward from the iron road.
Who dreamed of a competing canal?
A Competing Canal. Railroad pioneer Asa Whitney had once dreamed an iron route would re-center the world toward America, making it a conduit of exchange between Asia and Europe. In this sense, his vision of the grand project remained unfulfilled.
Was the Transcontinental Railroad a battle?
The transcontinental railroad was not the beginning of white settlers' battles with Native Americans. Nor was it the final nail in the coffin. But it was an irrevocable marker of encroaching white society, that unstoppable force which would force Indians onto reservations within decades.