THE RAILROAD
#1
#1
In January of 1863, the Central Pacific Railroad began its construction from this location.
Where is Sacramento, CA.?
In July of 1865, the Union Pacific Railroad began its construction from this location.
Where is Omaha, NE?
What major event led to the first major immigration by the Chinese to California in the late 1840's?
What was the Gold Rush?
During the late-1800's and early-1900's, many Mexicans fled Mexico for these TWO reasons.
What were political unrest and civil war?
In the 1870's and 1880's what major new invention led to an agricultural boom in California?
What is the refrigerated railroad car?
This proved to be the most significant obstacle faced by the Central Pacific Railroad.
What are the Sierra Nevada mountains?
During its first year of construction, these two major factors limited the Union Pacific railroad's progress to just 40 miles of track.
What were bad weather and disagreements?
What major building project led to a massive increase in jobs for the Chinese population in California beginning in the late 1860's?
What was the transcontinental railroad?
As a result of discrimination, most early Mexican immigrants were limited to these TWO types of jobs.
What were farm workers and maids?
Early California migrant farm workers were often required to work how many hours per day?
What are 16 hours per day?
Desperate for a more reliable workforce, the Central Pacific Railroad began hiring these immigrant workers who proved to be a very hardworking and dependable source of labor.
Who were the Chinese?
Though they often faced great prejudice and discrimination, this group of immigrant workers proved instrumental in the construction of the Union Pacific railroad.
Who were the Irish?
What were THREE major reasons that early Chinese immigrants were discriminated against in California?
What are unemployment, lower wages and crime?
Early Mexican immigrants to California were often forced to live in TWO types of separate communities known as THESE.
What are barrios or colonias?
Name THREE nations where most migrant farm workers in early California immigrated from.
What are Mexico, China, Japan, India and the Philippines?
This was the highest point on the Central Pacific's route through California's mountains and also the location of a terrible tragedy twenty years earlier.
Where is the Donner Pass?
As the Union Pacific moved further west, its work crews were increasingly attacked by these groups who often stole this, depriving railway workers of an important food source.
Who were Native Americans?
What are cattle?
What law was passed by Congress in 1882 banning all further Chinese immigration to the United States?
What is the Chinese Exclusion Act?
Prior to 1914, African-Americans made up only around this percentage of California's population.
What is around 2%?
What two major necessities were often lacking in early California's migrant farm worker camps?
What are running water and proper shelter?
Only with the introduction of this incredibly powerful explosive was the Central Pacific able to complete its route through California's highest mountain range.
What is nitro glycerin?
During times when the Union Pacific's progress stalled, these would often spring up near the railroad bringing with them these two hazards which often put the railway workers at risk.
What were "Hell-On-Wheels" towns?
What were violence and disease?
Sadly, many white Californians who were prejudiced against the Chinese formed these groups in many of California's towns and major cities.
What were "anti-coolie clubs"?
Discriminatory California laws said that African-Americans could not buy what TWO things in predominantly white neighborhoods?
What are houses and businesses?
What TWO major industries thrived as California's cities grew in size and population?
What are canning and timber?