Railroads Transform the Nation

Consider This...

We can tell what time it is simply by looking at a clock, watch, or our cell phones, but...

How do we know what time it is in San Francisco, California and why is that significant?

Why Build the Railroad?

Encourage western settlements

Western economies would benefit

Western areas would have a greater hand in government

Union PacificCentral Pacific

Building Begins

Two companies given the job of completing the railroad

Central Pacific

Union Pacific

Both faced issues in paying for the completion of the job

Who worked on the Rails?

Most of the laborers were minority groups

Irish

Chinese

Former Slaves

Native Americans

Completion of the Rails

Process took around 6 years

Finished May 10, 1869

Promontory Point, Utah

The last spike was gold to commemorate the event

The east and west are joined together

Think about these...

How did the Transcontinental Railroad transform the west?

What lasting effects are around from the railroad?

Why do we have time zones today?