TranscontinentalRailroad

The Iron HorseInvented in England in 1804. By 1835 there was more than 1,000 miles of track in the US!

The Need• Gold Rush• Army• Trade• Settlers

“like building a railroad to the moon”

Finding a Route

Theodore Juddah went in search for a possible path.• Spent months camping

in the mountains.• Find a way through

Sierra Nevada Mountains.

• Convince Congress.

America gets on track!

• Unite the country• Expand West • 1862, signs the Pacific

Railroad Act

Full Steam Ahead!• Central Pacific Railroad builds east from Sacramento

California • The Union Pacific Railroad build west from Omaha,

Nebraska• Meet in Utah

Every mile on flat land= $16,000 Every mile on plateaus= $32,000Every mile on mountain= $48,00Every mile= 6,400 acres

Rough Patches

• 1863, Central Pacific• Only 50 miles in 2

years!• 1865, Union Pacific• Cuts through plains

Help Wanted20,000

Chinese Immigrants • Paid less• Dangerous Jobs

10 Mile Day- The Great Race

The Golden SpikePromontory Point, May 10,1869Central Pacific = 689 miles of trackUnion Pacific= 1,086 miles of track

The Results