The Transcontinental Railroad by Paolini, Benjamin M.

Central Pacific Railroad Company

bmp72725 — 2025-04-11 19:25:11 UTC

The Central Pacific Railroad Company, made up of primarily Chinese immigrants, started building in 1863, in Sacramento, California, and built eastward.

The Union pacific Railroad Company

bmp72725 — 2025-04-11 19:25:45 UTC

The Union pacific Railroad Company, made up of Irish Immigrants, Civil War Veterans, and African Americans, started building in 1865 in Omaha Nebraska and built westward.

Bridges Purpose

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The transcontinental Railroad was built to connect the eastern side of the united states, to the newly settled western side to complete the Manifest Destiney.

New Opportunities

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The government wanted to incentivize people to start moving out westward, and the Railroad made relocating much cheaper, quicker, and safer.

Obstacles

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The Union Pacific Railroad Company passed through native American land. This caused the US Army to be sent to where they were working to protect them from conflict, and The Central Pacific Railroad Company, had to build and blow through the rocky mountains, causing extreme danger to the workers.

Finishing the Railroad

bmp72725 — 2025-04-11 19:37:10 UTC

After 6 years, the railroad finally came to a finish, as both companies met at Promontory Summit in Utah. To symbolize the finishing of such a historic event, a golden spike was used to finish the railroad. This spike still stands today and can be visited at Golden Spike National Historic Park in Utah.

Impact of the Railroad On America

bmp72725 — 2025-04-11 19:39:01 UTC

The completion led to great economic growth and more trading, and the ability to start a new life for cheap in the west. The completion also led to a mass displacement of native Americans, and stolen land, and a environmental impact due to the pollution caused and the animals killed in the process.