The Wild West
Why do you think the west was called the "Wild West?"
*People acted this way
*Territory was unsettled
*Not many people lived there
What was the Transcontinental Railroad?
A railroad that would cross the entire continent.
Why were the Chinese some of the best workers?
They Worked:
Quickly, Quietly, and Diligently
Why were the Indian tribes of the plains troubled by the growth of the railroad?
Fast noisy trains would come steaming through their lands. Towns would spring up on their hunting grounds. The buffalo would not be able to live there.
How much track was the Central Pacific line able to lay in one day?
10 miles
What does the title of this chapter "The Wild West" tell you about why people were interested in the West?
People were interested in the "Wild West"
Where did the railroad project begin?
Two different places!
East from Sacramento, California
West from Omaha, Nebraska
How did the Chinese diet help them in their work?
They ate seafood and vegetables, and drank tea, their diet helped them to stay healthy.
What happened between the Union Pacific workers and the Plains Indians?
Fighting broke out from time to time.
Where did the two tracks meet?
Who lived in the Wild West before the Americans?
Native Americans
Where would the railroad meet?
Somewhere between the two cities.
How were the Chinese mistreated with their salary while working on the Railroad?
They received less pay than the Irish.
Which tribe was friendly to the railway workers?
Pawnee
What was special about the last spike that joined the rails together?
Made of gold
Did the White Americans act out of love for these first Americans?
NO!!
What was one of the problems that the railway workers faced?
Stopping to deal with landforms, curved track around a mountain, using dynamite to blast through rock
Insults and jokes
How did the Pawnee help the railway workers?
They helped guard the tracks from attacks by other tribes.
What happened to the last spike?
It was replaced with an iron spike. Golden spike was put in a museum.
The most exciting change in the west was?
Who were the immigrants who worked on the railroad?
Irish and Chinese
How did the Chinese earn the respect of those in charge?
They kept working hard. They were given the hardest jobs and were trusted to do them well.
What did the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes do?
They sometimes raided the railway workers.
What is a frontier?
Open land in the West. Land that has not been settled.