How did the railroad contribute to the end of the Indian way of life?
The railroad allowed for easier westward expansion, so more settlers were coming and a lot faster. It was cheaper to freight supplies by train, and they could carry more, decreasing the cost of goods, which in turn increased population with the booming economy.
What impact did the railroad have?
Surging Interstate Trade 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 the railway affected native peoples of the West?
The railroad also blazed through Indigenous lands without anyone seeking their consent. They saw how the railway in the U.S. had destroyed buffalo populations on which they relied for food and shelter, and enabled further land theft.
What were the negative effects of the Transcontinental Railroad?
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. The workers often killed buffalo for meat, and the track itself disrupted the Plains Indians buffalo hunting.
What were the two main Indian tribes that the railroad in the East came into conflict with?
Pawnee people cultivated friendly relations with American settlers, and they formed a strong alliance with the U.S. Army to defend the transcontinental railroad against the Pawnees’ traditional Indian enemies, the Lakota and Cheyenne people.
How did the railroads affect the Plains Indians?
The land grants that the railroad companies were given took away land from the Plains Indians. The Fort Laramie Treaty (1851) stipulated that Plains Indians had to allow railroad construction teams on their land. This had a huge impact on the Plains Indians way of life.
What was the job of the Union Pacific Railroad?
It was their job to keep the Union Pacific safe. For the most part, however, the tribes were willing to work with the rail roads. The Central Pacific railroad was offered Army support for protection but turned it down. They had their own ideas on how to deal with the Native Americans.
Why was the transcontinental railroad important to North America?
Du Bois and Lenin argued that the hyper-concentration of wealth led to the territorial division of the world. Railroads were a core infrastructure of imperialism in North America, Africa, Asia, and Latin America. What roles did Native Americans play during the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad?
How are indigenous people involved in the railroad?
Indigenous people are often present in railroad histories, but they form a kind of colorful backdrop that establishes the scene. Rarely, if ever, do we get an understanding of the interests that drove Indigenous peoples’ actions in relation to the railroad.