What were some of the difficulties of building the transcontinental railroad?
of snow and were camping in tunnels they created underneath it. Another challenge they faced was the need to create tunnels through the mountains. Using nitroglycerin, they had to blast through the mountains in a very dangerous manner. On average, they were only able to get through 1 foot of mountain at a time.
What were three negatives to the building of the transcontinental railroad?
As seen on the map, by 1890 there was 163,597 miles of railroads stretching across the entire United States, which in turn had its negatives such as destroying of land, habitat loss, species depletion, and more; but it also had it benefits as well.
What were some of the challenges these workers faced in building the railroad?
The work was tiresome, as the railroad was built entirely by manual laborers who used to shovel 20 pounds of rock over 400 times a day. They had to face dangerous work conditions – accidental explosions, snow and rock avalanches, which killed hundreds of workers, not to mention frigid weather.
What were some of the positive effects of the railroad?
It had a positive effect of the economy as it helped facilitate trade between the east and west of the USA, and between the USA and Asia. Likewise, it encouraged the growth of the cattle industry. Likewise, it encouraged the growth of the cattle industry. The railroad also made homestead life easier.
What are 2 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 was the problem with the transcontinental railroad?
Trouble on the tracks. Many dangers came with the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. In the east, tracks ran through Native American tribal territories. The Native Americans saw this as a threat to their existence and a violation of their treaties with the United States.
Who was the head of construction on the transcontinental railroad?
In order to keep up with their progress, Charles Crocker, the head of construction, began to hire Chinese immigrants. The Chinese immigrant population had grown on the west coast due to the discovery of gold.They proved to be hard workers, he hired more.
What was the working conditions in the Central Pacific Railroad?
The majority of workers for Central Pacific were Chinese immigrants, who agreed to work in very poor conditions. In order to lay track in the mountains, laborers had to blast through granite cliffs, risking their lives to lay explosives. Snowstorms, explosions, freezing temperatures, and avalanches killed hundreds of workers.
Who are the competitors for the transcontinental railroad?
Dreams of a Transcontinental Railroad. Two Competing Companies: The Central Pacific and the Union Pacific Railroad. Danger Ahead: Building the Transcontinental Railroad. Driving Toward The Last Spike. Impact on The United States.