What was the purpose of the transcontinental railroad?
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.
Why was the first transcontinental railroad built?
The First Transcontinental Railroad stretched from the East Coast of the United States to the West Coast. No longer would people travel in long wagon trains that took months to reach California. They could now travel faster, safer, and cheaper by train.
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.
Who made sure that a Trancontinental Railroad would be built?
Doc Durant was the stock market speculator from New York who, despite his many moral failings, made sure that the Union Pacific (the portion of the transcontinental railroad built from Omaha, Nebraska to Utah) was built as quickly as possible.
How did the transcontinental railroad impact the US economy?
The transcontinental railroad had a huge impact on the economy. The transcontinental railroad allowed for the transportation of goods over long distances. This was especially helpful for the industrial north at the time. By the 1890s, the United States was becoming an urban nation, and railroads supplied cities and towns with food, fuel,…
Who helped build the Trans Continental Railroad?
Theodore Judah was a very important part of the Transcontinental Railroad . He was a civil engineer and helped to build the first railroad in California. He proposed that the Transcontinental Railroad take the path along the 41st parallel which would take trains through Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California.
What two companies built the First Transcontinental Railroad?
On July 1, 1862, Congress passes and Abraham Lincoln signs the Pacific Railroad Bill. It was announced that two companies were to build the first transcontinental railroad, The Central Pacific Company and the Union Pacific Railroad the two chosen companies responsible for constructing this massive railroad.