Before the Railroad
What President was very adamant about building the railroad?
Abraham Lincoln
Where did the Union Pacific Railroad Company start building?
Omaha, Nebraska
Where did the Central Pacific Railroad start building?
Sacramento, California
Where did the railroad lines meet? (City, State)
Promontory Point, Utah
What is the name of the ceremonial final spike that joined the rails?
The Golden Spike
What was the name of the Act that was signed in 1862 that chartered the railroads to begin building?
The Pacific Railway Act
What group of immigrants made up a large portion of the Union Pacific's workforce?
The Irish
Name the three states that the Central Pacific Railroad Company traveled through.
California, Nevada, Utah
How did the people communicate with the east that the railroad was completed?
The new telegraph line
Did the Central Pacific or Union Pacific company lay more track?
Union Pacific
How many surveys were done to help determine the route that the railroad would follow?
Five
Name 3 of the 4 states along the Union Pacific Railroad route?
Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah
What group of immigrants made up a large portion of the Central Pacific's workforce?
The Chinese
What year was the golden spike driven?
1869
How long did it take to complete the railroad?
6-7 Years
What is the name of the method that was used to get mail to the west before the railroad was completed?
The Pony Express
Why did the Union Pacific Railroad proceed so much faster than the Central Pacific?
It traveled through the great plains, which were flat open land.
What Strategy was used to build tracks through the Sierra Nevada mountains
Gun powder was stuffed into holes in the rock and the fuses were lit to create tunnels
What are two specific jobs that people had while building the railroad?
Track layers, blacksmiths, carpenters, engineers, masons, surveyors, teamsters, and cooks
How did the Transcontinental Railroad impact travel time across the country?
It reduced it from months to weeks
What was the biggest concern with following the central route for the railroad?
The Snow
What animal was central to the Northern Cheyenne Nation that was greatly depleted and severely impacted their way of life?
Bison
Who was Theodore Judah?
The Main Engineer
Why was the ceremony for the driving of the golden spike postponed for a few days? (name one reason)
Wet weather, a washed out bridge, and a revolt by unpaid workers
What was each railroad given (besides money) for building the railroad?
Land Grants