Building the transcontinental railroad history of america linda thompson railroad. The iron road this is the earlier and lesser of two pbs american experience films on the transcontinental railroad. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Despite their sacrifice, the railroad chinese were tossed aside after the railroad work. The transcontinental railroad 1869 printable minibooks. Financing americas first transcontinental railroad beyond. By the middle of the century, the benefits brought by the host of advances of the industrial age were gradually beginning to reach america, which soon d. Chinese railroad workers were almost written out of history.
The first transcontinental railroad known originally as the pacific railroad and later as the overland route was a 1,912mile 3,077 km continuous railroad line constructed between 1863 and 1869 that connected the existing eastern u. But it was not easy to get workers to do such arduous labor. Tales of the race to complete the transcontinental railroad are often full of. Descendants honor chinese workers on railroads 150th year. Customers who viewed this item also viewed these digital items. May 18, 2015 join me as we lay down the tracks of learning by covering the basics on the transcontinental railroad built during the 1860s. Stereoviews, engravings, maps, and documents are treasures of western americana that illustrate the history of the first transcontinental railroad, built from sacramento, california over the sierra nevada mountains, the to end of track at the golden spike ceremony at promontory, utah where the rails were joined on may 10, 1869 with the union. However, it is my hope that the information presented here provides a brief synopsis on the topic. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Slideshow containing the overland route fullsize image railroad historyamerican west research guides at southeastern oklahoma state university exhibit of photographic history museum libguides. The transcontinental railroad find out how the transcontinental railroad transformed america into one nation in this history channel video. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to. List of books and articles about railroad history online.
Land of the iron dragon a novel about the chinese who labored to build the first transcontinental railroad in america. May 09, 2019 gordon chang, a stanford professor of history, writes in his fascinating new book released earlier this week, the ghosts of gold mountain. With engaging pictures and text, this nonfiction narrative brings this part of history to life, including the key events and key players involved. Learn more about railroad history with this selection of books available in the museum. Completed in 1869 with the driving of the famous golden spike at promontory summit, utah, the transcontinental railroad revolutionized transportation across the united states and fundamentally changed the american west, sparking social, economic, environmental, and political change. From across the sea, they came by the thousands, escaping war and poverty in southern china to seek their fortunes in america. The roles of the associates and the central pacifics construction of the western leg of americas first transcontinental railroad are laid out in detail in the past three articles. Apr 17, 2014 the roles of the associates and the central pacifics construction of the western leg of americas first transcontinental railroad are laid out in detail in the past three articles. I dont know if this is the correct forum but i will try it anyway. Chinese laborers had some of the most dangerous and challenging tasks, but not at the beginning. The northern pacific railroad, the sioux, and the panic of 1873 by m.
Join me as we lay down the tracks of learning by covering the basics on the transcontinental railroad built during the 1860s. The transcontinental railroad history of railroads and maps. It was 1,776 miles long and served for the atlantic and pacific coasts of the united states to be connected by rail for the first time in history. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 18631869 paperback november 6, 2001. The site offers visitors a brief history of the building of the transcontinental railroad as well as information on the history and technology of 19th century railroads. In the mid19th century, it was estimated that 30 milion to 60 million buffalo roamed the plains. Central pacific railroad photographic history museum virtual bookstore. Bains bookthe product of a 14year effortis the authoritative account and will probably remain so for a. In 1864, a tracklaying crew from the central pacific railroad came eastward across the plain from sacramento, building the western half of the nations first transcontinental railroad. Building the transcontinental railroad ebook railroad. In california, most people wanted to work near home and go back to their familys dinner table at night.
The expeditions included surveyors, scientists, and artists and resulted in an immense body of data covering at least 400,000 square miles 1,000,000 km 2 on the american west. David bains meticulously researched and highly detailed empire express is the best modern history of the first transcontinental railroad highly recommended. When construction first began the chinese were considered too delicate to build a railroad so they were given light duty jobs, like filling dump carts. The transcontinental railroad in childrens books central.
In 1862, the pacific railroad act chartered the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies, tasking them with building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to west. Mar 06, 2020 the transcontinental railroad find out how the transcontinental railroad transformed america into one nation in this history channel video. The construction of a transcontinental railroad was one of the united states greatest technological achievements. In the beginning of the nineteenth century, america was waiting to be explored, and several thousand adventurous people accepted the challenge. Its a relatively short reflection on the period of time wherein the railroad was conceived, begun, accomplished, and completed. The building of the transcontinental railroad nathan. May 10, 2019 despite chinese workers contributions to building americas historic infrastructure project, chang says their history is often forgotten. Transcontinental railroad beginning with designs for the first steam engine and ending with the division of sioux territory.
The strike is, like so much of the chinese railroad history, not included in many accounts of the railroad nor in most of the accounts of american labor history. A groundbreaking, breathtaking history of the chinese workers who built the transcontinental railroad, helping to forge modern america only to disappear into the shadows of history until now. While the associates risked their personal wealth in accomplishing their task, the project required far more in resources than they could muster from individual investors. Transcontinental railroad this pbs take on the transcontinental railroad brings ample detail and great archival material, along with the commentary of some of our best railroad historians. They could now travel faster, safer, and cheaper by train. Looking for a good book about the transcontinental railroad. The print book contains 48 pages and includes pictures. Although ambrose was a retired university history professor, the book was written as a nonacademic. It talks about the transcontinental railroad from the perspective of a young girl whose father was a chinese laborer. Central pacific railroad photographic history museum. It was the physical, material process of a young nation growing into its own vast territory and grand sense of destiny, and the building of that railroad encompassed many of the great issues of the day.
As part of my nearconstant study of all things american history, i listened to the audible edition of the transcontinental railroad. In 1845, asa whitney presented to congress a plan for the federal government to. Once the railroad was in place, it proved a boon to building up the american west, especially the southwest and pacific northwest in places like nevada, utah, wyoming, colorado, oregon and washington. The pacific railroad surveys 18531855 consisted of a series of explorations of the american west to find possible routes for a transcontinental railroad across north america. Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate locomotive, or from individual motors in selfpropelled multiple units. There have been several excellent books published over the years that thoroughly cover the transcontinental railroad subject. In the sequel coming december 2014 to my historical novel new garden, the construction of the western leg of the transcontinental railroad serves as the primary backdrop for the story. The men of the transcontinental railroad beyond the.
First transcontinental railroad central pacific railroad. Building the transcontinental railroad ebook railroad history. It is extremely detailed and seems to be the best researched of many books on. Lathams the transcontinental railroad, 186269 watts, 1973. In 1845, asa whitney presented to congress a plan for the federal government to subsidize the building of a railroad from the mississippi river to the pacific. Building the transcontinental railroad history of america.
Mar 27, 2019 building the transcontinental railroad history of america linda thompson railroad history america building social studies middle school connect magazines books more information. Kwan and other chinese americans are pushing for these workers some of whom lost their lives building the western portion of the railroad to get more than a token mention in history books. Nothing like it in the world, author stephen ambrose notes that lincoln stated during a campaign speech, no other improvement. They crossed a small rail line the california central railroad that linked the young towns of lincoln and folsom, and gave the spot the imaginative name of junction. Gordon chang, a stanford professor of history, writes in his fascinating new book released earlier this week, the ghosts of gold mountain. Over the next seven years, the two companies would race toward each other from sacramento. The transcontinental railroad made sheridans strategy of total war much more effective. The book is similar in organization and content to frank b. Here are carefully selected articles, photographs, and art. History westward expansion the first transcontinental railroad stretched from the east coast of the united states to the west coast. If you wanted to wade into the quagmire of corrupt railroad financeand, admittedly, thats a pretty big ifwhites article would be a good place to begin. No longer would people travel in long wagon trains that took months to reach california. Many books on the railroad focus on the big four and.
If you want to know the history of the transcontinental railroad, this book is for you. May 09, 2019 after a long and winding history, that car is now the centerpiece of an exhibition at the nevada state railroad museum in carson city that commemorates 150 years since the transcontinental. The term was widely used when referring to laborers. For many years railroad tracks had varied in width, so that cars could not pass from one line to another. The makers of transcontinental railroad traveled back and forth across the original route of the railroad, looking for locations, stories, and images. Railroad history 220 springsummer 2019 coverage of golden spike 150, including what the transcontinental railroad wrought, by maury klein, and a firsthand account of riding the line shortly after it was completed. History of union pacific railroad by marie cahill and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
A train is a connected series of vehicles that move along a permanent track to transport freight or passengers from one place to another. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 18631869. As a result, this article could, in no way, come close to those works. Most important, it offers full text access to the linda hall librarys.
The format makes it especially useful and appealing as a supplementary resource for social studies research. From across the sea, they came by the thousands, escaping war and. Iron rails, iron men, and the race to link the nation. The first transcontinental railroad in the united states was built in the 1860s. Chinese railroad workers were almost written out of. They crossed a small rail line the california central railroad that linked the young towns of lincoln an. Ambrose has told a great historical story in this book and left this reader with a. Tells the story of how the transcontinental railroad was built during the 1800s. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 1863 1869.
Transcontinental railroad books in print and videotapes. List of books and articles about transcontinental railroad online. Originally thought to be too small to complete such a momentous task, charles crocker of central pacific pointed out. Nothing like it in the world is a narrative history of the planning and construction of the pacific railroad. Transcontinental railroad, united states building the world. Back in 1869, the central pacific and union pacific railroad worked tirelessly under brutal conditions to drive the last spike, the golden spike, at promontory summit, utah territory, to complete the transcontinental railroad. The story of the underground railroad tangled history by steven otfinoski and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The linda hall library transcontinental railroad website was created with generous support from the bnsf burlington northern santa fe foundation. Mar 25, 2014 building the first transcontinental railroad was the largest engineering and technology undertaking of that time in u. America forgot the chinese workers who built the railroad.
The men of the transcontinental railroad beyond the history. As they stretched the rails in every direction, the railroad moguls of the nineteenth century changed the face of america forever. The history of the transcontinental railroad trains magazine. May 09, 2019 kwan and other chinese americans are pushing for these workers some of whom lost their lives building the western portion of the railroad to get more than a token mention in history books. This week marks 150 years since the completion of the transcontinental railroad, and several days worth of events are planned. Railroad track had to be laid over 2,000 miles of rugged terrain, including mountains of solid granite. I want one that tells the story accurately from beginning of the railroad to the completion. Building the transcontinental railroad asian america only 5 left in stock more on the way.
Financing americas first transcontinental railroad. List of books and articles about transcontinental railroad. The first spikes were driven in 1863, in the midst of the civil war. Can anyone recommend an accurate book about the transcontinental railroad. The first transcontinental railroad was built crossing the western half of america and it was pieced together between 1863 and 1869.
In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to west. The railroad act of 1862 put government support behind the transcontinental railroad and helped create the union pacific railroad, which subsequently joined with the central pacific at promontory, utah, on may 10, 1869, and signaled the linking of the continent. Through an ambitious program of land grants and lowinterest government loans, he encouraged entrepreneurs such as californias big fourcharles crocker. The building of the transcontinental railroad books. Central pacific railroad construction in the 1860s. The possibility of railroads connecting the atlantic and pacific coasts was discussed in the congress even before the treaty with england which settled the question of the oregon boundary in 1846. Nowhere in history was this process quite so dramatic as it was in the building of the first transcontinental railroad. Chief promoter of a transcontinental railroad was asa whitney, a new york merchant active in the china trade who was obsessed with the idea of a railroad to the pacific.
Despite chinese workers contributions to building americas historic infrastructure project, chang says their history is often forgotten. The transcontinental railroad history of railroads and. The transcontinental railroad turning points in american. However, in the mid1880s a standard gauge of 4 ft 8 12 in. In his authoritative book, the men who built the transcontinental railroad, 18631869. This book provides a fastpaced and exciting look at many aspects of the building of the transcontinental railroad. Building the first transcontinental railroad was the largest engineering and technology undertaking of that time in u. Where the buffalo no longer roamed history smithsonian. Mar 27, 2019 building the transcontinental railroad ebook mar 27, 2019 building the transcontinental railroad ebook stay safe and healthy. The transcontinental railroad chronicles the construction of the railroad that connected americas coasts. It contains original scholarship and fresh interpretations that set the standard in railway research. Chinese labor was suggested, as they had already helped build the california central railroad, the railroad from sacramento to marysville and the san jose railway. The overland route photo from transcontinental railroad.
Watch the transcontinental railroad american experience. Building a transcontinental railroad, writes the prolific historian stephen ambrose, was second only to the abolition of slavery on lincolns presidential agenda. In 1862, president lincoln signed the pacific railway actand the race to complete the transcontinental railroad was on. After a long and winding history, that car is now the centerpiece of an exhibition at the nevada state railroad museum in carson city that commemorates 150 years since the transcontinental. The expeditions included surveyors, scientists, and artists and resulted in an immense body of data covering at least 400,000 square miles 1,000,000 km 2 on the. History of the transcontinental railroad concise summary. May 14, 2019 it was a seminal moment in american history. Most modern trains are powered by diesel locomotives or by electricity supplied by overhead wires or additional rails, although. Looking for a good book about the transcontinental railroad o gauge railroading on line forum. The transcontinental railroad was the biggest government construction project in u.
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