Westward Movement and the Second World WarJon HaleCollege of Charleston

Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way, alternatively Westward Ho! (1860) Emanuel Leutze

"American Progress." (1872). John Gast

The Pacific Railway Act was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on July 1, 1862. This act provided Federal government support for the building of the first transcontinental railroad, which was completed on May 10, 1869.

Proximity Point, Utah (May 10, 1869)

“The last rail is laid; the last spike driven; the Pacific Railroad is completed. The point of junction is 1086 miles west of the Missouri river and 690 miles east of Sacramento”

+ Union Pacific Railroad

Depletion of Buffalo

Pre-contact, it is estimated there were between 15 and 60 million buffalo

By 1870, 1000 buffalo roam the West

24 to 28 Plains tribes use buffalo in 52 different ways

food, supplies, war and hunting implements

Causes: Permanent railroad tracks, depletion of trees for railroad ties and bridges, and decreasing the wild game

Pacific Railroad Act (1862)Provided federal supported for the transcontinental railroad

Completed May 10, 1869

900 miles of track

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)