How did people die while building the Transcontinental Railroad?
At first railroad companies were reluctant to hire Chinese workers, but the immigrants soon proved to be vital. They toiled through back-breaking labor during both frigid winters and blazing summers. Hundreds died from explosions, landslides, accidents and disease.
How many people died while making the Transcontinental Railroad?
1,200 deaths
While canal projects did have the highest death totals, railway projects were probably the most dangerous recording over 100,000 deaths on just two projects — The Transcontinental Railroad with 1,200 deaths, although this number has never been verified, and the Burma-Siam Railway with 106,000 construction worker deaths …
How did building the Transcontinental Railroad affect lives?
The completion of the transcontinental railroad led to heightened racial tensions in California, as white workers from the East Coast and Europe could more easily travel westward where immigrant laborers were prevalent, says Princeton University Assistant Professor of History Beth Lew-Williams, author of The Chinese …
What were the dangers of building the Transcontinental Railroad?
Both railroads had to cross rugged terrain, desert and mountains and both had to deal with harsh weather. At times the greatest danger came from the Indian raids as the railroads intersected the Native Americans’ land. The Indians attacked the crews in order to protect their homeland.
How many Chinese died on the railroad?
Between 1880 and 1885, 17,000 men emigrated from China, most from the province of Kwangtung (Guangdong). By some estimates, more than 4,000 workers died during the construction.
Where did the Chinese railroad workers sleep?
The Chinese railway workers lived in poor conditions, often in camps, sleeping in tents or boxcars.
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.
How many Chinese immigrants worked on the transcontinental railroad?
And even though they made major contributions to the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, these 15,000 to 20,000 Chinese immigrants have been largely ignored by history.
How much did it cost to travel on the transcontinental railroad?
Before the building of the Transcontinental Railroad, it cost nearly $1,000 dollars to travel across the country. After the railroad was completed, the price dropped to $150 dollars.