U.S. History
Choo-Choo-Choo-Choo-Changes:
Examining the Effects of the Transcontinental Railroad
The United States had fulfilled its goal of “m
manifest destiny” following its war with Mexico in
the late 1840s. After signing the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the U.S. stretched from the Atlantic
Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. While there were many Americans living on the east and west coasts,
these two regions remained largely unconnected. Much of the land that the U.S. had acquired in the
central portion of the country was unsettled and undeveloped. In 1862, the United States
government passed the Homestead Act to encourage Americans to move out west (The act offered
160 acres of free land to anyone who agreed to live on the land and improve it for 5 years). This act
of congress resulted in some westward migration, but it was the development of transportation
technology that really caused enormous change out west.
The U.S. government commissioned two companies to build the country’s first
transcontinental railroad. The railroad would span the entire country connecting the east coast and
the west coast. In 1863, the Central Pacific Company started laying railroad tracks in Sacramento, CA
(in the west) and the Union Pacific Company began building their track in the east in 1865 at the
conclusion of the Civil War. The two companies planned connecting their lines in Promontory,
Utah. The companies spent nearly $200,000 on bribes to convince the government to help support
the construction of the railroad. The government in turn gave the companies 21 million acres of free
land and paid the companies $173 million to construct the railroad (which actually only cost $80
million to make). The owners and shareholders (like J.P. Morgan) of the two railroad companies
became quite wealthy as a result of the government subsidies. On May 10th, 1869, the work on the
transcontinental railroad was completed and the country was changed forever. How, you may be
asking, did the railroad change the nation?
More Diversity, Please!
The Central Pacific Company in the west was
facing a labor shortage when the construction of the
railroad began, because must people were trying to
strike it rich in the mining industry that was sweeping
through the west. Despite enormous amounts of
prejudice, the Central Pacific Company decided to hire
a few dozen Chinese laborers. The Chinese men
proved themselves to be very hard workers. The
company decided to bring even more men over from
China. During the peak of its construction, nearly
Chinese railroad workers, circa 1868
10,000 Chinese laborers worked for the company.
The Union Pacific Company depended heavily on Irish immigrants for its labor force. The companies’
decision to hire immigrants from these two countries marked the beginning of a wave of immigration
from both China and Ireland. While both immigrant groups faced an enormous amount of prejudice
and discrimination (which we will examine more closely in the coming weeks), their arrival and
integration into American society forever changed the cultural landscape of the United States.
Standardization of Time
When it’s 2:30 PM in Waterford, CT, what time is it in Boston, MA? If you said “2:30” you
would be correct. Waterford and Boston are each located in the eastern time zone, so they share the
same clock. This was not always the case. In fact, before the completion of the transcontinental
railroad, each town determined its own time based on the position of the sun in the sky. This was
called “local time”. In today’s society, our lives operate according a schedule measured by the clock.
In 1786, the average town had about 4 clocks. Time was measured not by the clock, but by daily
routines. As clocks became cheaper to produce in the 1830s and 1840s, they became more
commonplace. However, time still varied from town to town. Noon in Waterford, CT was not at the
same time as noon in Boston, MA (in fact noon in Waterford, may have been different from noon in
Montville!). All of this made it very difficult for railroad lines to schedule trains traveling across the
country (i.e. “the train departs at 1PM….but when is 1PM?). To solve this problem, the railroad
companies set up “standard time”. It was a system that divided the United States into 4 time zones.
The system went into effect in 1883, though many Americans resisted the change. The New York
Herald published an article in 1883 stating that standard time “goes beyond the pursuits of men and
enters into their private lives…” Many people felt that the standardization of time stripped towns of
their individuality. As a result, Congress did not end up making standard time official in 1918 (when
most of the public accepted the idea).
Economic Connections
The transcontinental railroad created an economic connection between the east and west
coasts. Businesses on both sides of the country were able to work together more easily. It helped the
country to use its resources more efficiently and laid the foundation for the “regional
interdependence” that was helped the United States’ economy to be so strong and stable over time.
The railroads carried raw materials from the west, such as lumber and livestock, to the Midwest, where
it could be processed and then shipped east where it could be turned into manufactured goods.
Additionally, people no longer had to live near waterways. Americans became less reliant on the
physical geography of the country for transportation. It allowed cities like Denver, Colorado
(population of 2,603 in 1860) to grow rapidly (population of 106,713 in 1890).
The Destruction of Native American Culture
The migration west had a final, devastating effect on Native Americans. The transcontinental
railroad brought thousands of people to the central part of the country, where most Native
Americans had been driven. Once again, Native Americans were forced onto smaller and smaller
tracks of land. Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe led an unsuccessful attack against the American
government in the west. He said of the incident, “I only ask the Government to be treated as all
other men are treated. Whenever the white man treats the Indian as they treat each other then we
shall have no more wars.” In 1887, the U.S. Government passed the Dawes Act in hopes of
encouraging Native Americans to give up their traditional ways of life
and integrate themselves into white society. The government believed
that if Native Americans were to assimilate themselves into white
society, that there would be no more tensions between them and
white settlers. The Dawes Act dismantled reservations and divided up
the land individually amongst tribe members. Native American
children were forced to attend schools where they learned to be a part
of “white culture”. The schooling often left Native American children
confused (given that they were taught that their culture was inferior).
Native Americans continued to face prejudice and discrimination
despite these changes that were all sparked by the transcontinental
railroad.
I wonder
what time
it is across
the street?
Name:
Date:
Core:
U.S. History
Reflections on the Transcontinental Railroad
Directions: Use the “Choo-Choo-Choo-Choo-Changes: Examining the Impact of the
Transcontinental Railroad” handout to answer the following questions.
Fact Check…
1. What was the Homestead Act of 1862? _____________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. What were the names of the two companies that constructed the first transcontinental
railroad?
a. ________________________________________________________________________
b. ________________________________________________________________________
3. True or False. The creation of the transcontinental railroad is an example of how America is a
meritocracy. It was created purely on the basis of the hard work of the owners of the
companies that laid the track.
I think that the statement is ______________ (true or false) because: ____________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. Identify two groups of immigrants that came to the United States as a result of the
construction of the transcontinental railroad.
a. _____________________________________
b. _____________________________________
5. What is standard time? ___________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
6. Did the creation of the transcontinental railroad result in sectionalism or nationalism? Briefly
explain your position. ___________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
7. What was the Dawes Act? ________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Reader Response… (ATITIC)
Progress often results in winners and losers. While a majority of people often benefit from progress
(at least in the long run), some people are actually harmed by progress.
Do you think that the statement above applies to the history of the transcontinental railroad? Explain
using evidence from the text.
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4
Exemplary
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Insightful, well
organized, and fluent
Deep understanding
of text is
demonstrated
Specific references to
text are used to
support ideas
Text references are
well interpreted and
clearly connected to
response
3
Proficient
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Thoughtful, organized,
and fluent
Clear understanding of
the text is
demonstrated
Relevant references to
text are used to
support ideas
Text references are
explained and
connected to response
2
Progressing
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Organized and
somewhat fluent
Basic understanding
of text is displayed
At least one relevant
example from text is
used to support ideas
Text references are
somewhat connected
to response
Are you a good
or a bad train?
1
Beginning
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Disorganized or
confusing
Limited or no
understanding of text is
displayed
Limited or no examples
from text are used to
support ideas
Text reference seems
irrelevant to response
Name:
Date:
Core:
U.S. History
You’re going to
learn about my
ancestors today!
Mental Warm-Up:
Transcontinental Railroad Prep
1. What does the prefix “ttrans” mean? __________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. What does the term “m
manifest destiny” mean? _________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. Imagine if each town had its own time zone. How would that make life better or
worse?
I think that if each town had its own time zone, things would be much ____________
(better or worse) because: _________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4. How has the invention of the car changed American society? ____________________
________________________________________________________________________
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5. How has the invention of the car both helped and hurt the United States? __________
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