The Problem of Travel

In the mid-1800s, traveling across the United States was slow, dangerous, and uncomfortable. A trip from the East Coast to California could take months by wagon or ship. Americans dreamed of a faster way to connect the country. The answer was the transcontinental railroad, a railway line that would stretch from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific Ocean.

Planning the Railroad

In 1862, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railway Act. This law gave two companies, the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific, the job of building the railroad. The Union Pacific started in Omaha, Nebraska, and built west. The Central Pacific started in Sacramento, California, and built east. The government gave them land and money for every mile of track they laid.

Logos of the Railroads that Came Together to Form the Transcontinental Railroad

Hard and Dangerous Work

Building the railroad was extremely hard and often deadly work. Thousands of workers were needed. Many were Irish immigrants in the East and Chinese immigrants in the West. They worked long hours in all kinds of weather, using picks, shovels, and explosives. In the Sierra Nevada mountains, workers had to blast tunnels through solid rock and risk avalanches and freezing temperatures.

A Historic Meeting

On May 10, 1869, the two railroads finally met at Promontory Summit, Utah. A special golden spike was hammered into the final rail to celebrate the completion. What once took months now took only about a week by train. People, mail, and goods could move across the continent faster than ever before. New towns sprang up along the tracks, and businesses grew as it became easier to ship products.

Effects on Native Americans

However, the transcontinental railroad also had serious negative effects. The tracks cut through Native American lands, bringing soldiers, settlers, and buffalo hunters. Many Native nations lost their homes, hunting grounds, and traditional way of life. While the railroad helped the United States grow richer and more powerful, it also caused great suffering and conflict.

A Legacy of Progress and Cost

The transcontinental railroad is a powerful symbol of the Gilded Age. It shows both the creativity and courage of the workers and engineers, and the high human cost of rapid progress. Studying this railroad helps us understand how technology can change a nation—for better and for worse.

Timeline of Key Events

• 1862 – Pacific Railway Act is signed by President Lincoln.
• 1863 – Union Pacific and Central Pacific begin construction.
• 1867 – Thousands of Chinese workers are hired to work in the West.
• May 10, 1869 – Golden spike ceremony at Promontory Summit, Utah.
• 1870s–1880s – More rail lines and time zones are created as rail travel expands.

Glossary

• Transcontinental – Stretching across an entire continent.
• Immigrant – A person who moves from one country to live in another.
• Laborer – A worker who does hard physical work, often for low pay.
• Pacific Railway Act – A law that supported building a railroad across the U.S.
• Golden spike – A special final spike used to mark the completion of the railroad.
• Promontory Summit – The place in Utah where the two railroads met.
• Surveyor – A person who measures land to plan where tracks should go.
• Infrastructure – Basic systems like roads, railroads, and bridges that a society needs.

Discussion Questions

1. What were the main reasons the United States wanted a transcontinental railroad?
2. How did immigrant workers contribute to the building of the railroad?
3. In what ways did the railroad help the country grow, and in what ways did it cause harm?
4. If you were a leader at the time, how would you have tried to balance progress with fairness to Native American nations?