A Transcontinental Railroad - 1499 Words

Around the 1840’s, the western land was still fairy new to America with many Americans eager to expand. Americans became extremely curious, wondering what lies in this forsaken land and developed the proposal of manifest destiny. The term manifest destiny â€Å"was a brief way to express support for American expansion and the annexation of western lands† (Mountjoy 12). Americans were now longing for a path from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast and hoping to fulfill manifest destiny. To achieve this â€Å"Asa Whitney proposes the construction of a transcontinental railroad† (Streissguth 9). The transcontinental railroad was designed to â€Å"link Omaha, Nebraska with Sacramento, California† (Stein 105). By creating the transcontinental railroad America would be able to expand across the entire country and manifest destiny would be fulfilled. After a long process â€Å"On May 10, 1869 the transcontinental railroad was complete† (Bain 9). Americans ha d access across the entire United States and was able to complete manifest destiny. This accomplishment was huge for America and provided happiness for an abundance of citizens. However, this happiness was not achieved by everyone. Plains Indians were very agitated upon the completion of the transcontinental railroad. The transcontinental railroad’s â€Å"tracks ran through a number of tribal territories, bringing into conflict cultures that held very different views of the land and how it might be used and lived on† (Jawort). How were Plains IndiansShow MoreRelatedThe Transcontinental Railroad And The Railroad1217 Words   |  5 PagesThe Transcontinental Railroad Amid the 1800’s, America was experiencing a period of development known as the Industrial Revolution. America was in its first century of being an autonomous and creative nation. One of the greatest commitments to this huge innovative progression was the foundation of the Transcontinental Railroad. The westward expansion designed to be the key to a nation-building project and a change for the United States.[1] The Pacific Railroads cleared the path in which builtRead MoreThe American Transcontinental Railroad3299 Words   |  14 Pagescirculated about a railroad that would spread across the continent from East to West. Republican congresses ruled for the federal funding of railroad construction, however, all actions were halted for a few years on account of a war. Following the American Civil War of 1861-1865, the race to build transcontinental railroad began in 1866. Lincoln approved Pacific Railway Act of 1862, granting two railroad companies the right to build the first American transcontinental railroad, (Clark 432). TheRead MoreThe Transcontinental Railroad Was A Marvel Of Engineering And Perseverance1148 Words   |  5 PagesNovember 17th, 2017 The Transcontinental Railroad is a marvel of engineering and perseverance. A transcontinental railroad is railroad that crosses through a continent. It was built between 1862 and 1869 across the United States. The initial project was proposed in 1845, but it took more time to start the dangerous construction. It had multiples consequences for the United States, not all positive. But the Transcontinental Railroad did affect the westward expansion. In 1845, Asa Whitney, an importantRead MoreNegative and Positive Impact of the Transcontinental Railroad1165 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿ Negative and Positive Impact of the Transcontinental Railroad Jeff Neukirch History 101 American History to 1877 Dr. Kimberly Weathers 26 June 2012 The Impacts of the Transcontinental Railroad On May 10, 1869 as the â€Å"Last Spike† struck by Leland Stanford now connected the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads across the United States at Promontory Summit in the Utah Territory. The transcontinental railroads now complete and America is now destined to move to the forefrontRead MoreThe Transcontinental Railroad Act Signed By Pres891 Words   |  4 Pageswas built between Omaha and San Francisco. That iron band was the Transcontinental Railroad. An engineering feat many thought was impossible. Surprisingly, during the carnage of the Civil War it served as a leap of faith for America that the country will survive. It was fraught with challenges from the start ranging from political to financial. Yet it s completion started a new pivotal era for America. The Transcontinental Railroad connected the citizens of America, linking the East and West CoastRead MoreThe Civil Of Chinese Immigrants On The Transcontinental Railroad1964 Words   |  8 Pagesthe Gold Ru sh, but they found no gold—only nativists who did not want them there. So, instead of mining, many Chinese settled for odd jobs and labored on the Transcontinental Railroad, a previously unparalleled project to connect the American West Coast with the American East Coast. The labor of Chinese immigrants on the Transcontinental Railroad was critical in helping to unify the United States of America. In search of a new life, thousands of people left China because of the country’s overpopulationRead MoreEssay on The Transcontinental Railroad And Westward Expansion2649 Words   |  11 Pages The Transcontinental Railroad and Westward Expansion Thesis: The transcontinental railroad greatly increased Westward expansion in the United States of America during the latter half of the nineteenth century. The history of the United States has been influenced by England in many ways. In the second half of the 1800s, the railroad, which was invented in England, had a major effect on Western expansion in the United States. quot;Railroads were born in England, a country with dense populationsRead MoreThe Transcontinental Railroad Network Connected The East And West Coasts1395 Words   |  6 PagesThe Transcontinental Railroad network connected the East and the West coasts; it was completed on May 10, 1869. It increased America’s imports and exports, as well as generated a national interest in tourism; however, the construction of such project encountered a series of issues. These ranged from corruption, the reluctant choice to hire Chinese workers and environmental obstacles. Thanks to the vision of some individuals and the authorization of President Abraham Lincoln, the Transcontinental RailroadRead MoreTranscontinental Railroad. The First Transcontinental Railroad1003 Words   |  5 Pages Transcontinental Railroad The first transcontinental railroad was built in the 1860s, though it was thought about way before those years. Its main purpose was to link the railway network of the Eastern coast with the rapidly growing state of California. No longer would people have to travel in long wagon trails that took months to reach the west coast. In addition to people, things like mail, supplies, and trade goods could now be shipped across the country in a few days. This helped revolutionizeRead MoreThe TransContinental Railroad Essay1488 Words   |  6 PagesThe TransContinental Railroad â€Å"If any act symbolized the taming of the Northwest frontier, it was the driving of the final spike to complete the nation’s first transcontinental railroad.†1 The first railroad west of the Mississippi River was opened on December 23, 1852. Five miles long, the track ran from St. Louis to Cheltanham, Missouri. Twenty-five years prior, there were no railroads in the United States; twenty-five years later, railroads joined the east and west coasts from New