This essay will briefly discuss the construction of the transcontinental railroad from 1865-1900. Railroads were the most important transportation source in the 19th century, greatly improving the country's economic system. The invention of airbrakes allowed for even more travelers and goods to be transported. This eliminated the need for walking or horseback travel, which took several days.
The United States desired a transcontinental railroad that would connect tracks from the east to the west. After much debate, President Lincoln signed the Pacific Railroad Act. This granted permission to the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific to construct a railroad and telegraph line connecting the entire continent. The Union Pacific was responsible for building westward from Omaha, Nebraska through the Great Plains, whil
e the Central Pacific was tasked with building eastward from Sacramento through the Sierra Nevada. The government provided funds based on the number of tracks laid, leading to intense competition between these two companies. Thousands of workers, including Civil War veterans and immigrants, were hired to lay tracks across treeless deserts and mountains.
The meeting point for the tracks of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific, as they approached each other, was Promontory, Utah. This event marked a significant period of growth for railroads in the next two decades, allowing the United States to become a two-ocean nation. With the ability for passengers to travel and goods to be shipped, this advancement fueled the expansion westward as people could now move more quickly. Overall, this event holds significance in history.
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