Hey everyone! Come along with me and we're going to explore the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Who would have imagined what a big job it was! The building of the Transcontinental Railroad was a very big deal! What was the Transcontinental Railroad? The Latin root “trans” means: across, beyond, through, changing thoroughly, and that is what this railroad did. It crossed the western portion of the United States and linked with railroads already built in the east, and it definitely changed things.
Railroads made traveling easier. Before the railroads most people traveled by water in boats because it was easier and faster than traveling over land; especially, when there were very few roads. Most cities were built near streams, rivers, and lakes because people used the waterways to travel, bring produce, furs, animals, etc., to the market.
Up until the time of the Transcontinental Railroad a large portion of the western part of the United States, the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains area, was still a wilderness and there were no roads. A person had to walk, ride a horse, or travel in a covered wagon pulled by horses, mules, oxen to cross that area. Many tribes of Native Americans lived there along with buffalo (correctly called bison) and many other wild animals. It was a difficult and dangerous trip!
There were routes by ship available to get from the east coast to the west coast but they were expensive, dangerous and took a long time. This could be done by sailing down to Panama, crossing over and taking a ship north or going around the tip of South America. So the idea of a railroad that stretched across the western half of the United States and linked into the railroads on the eastern half of the country sounded like a great idea.
Each day this week you are going to spend time exploring the websites in this activity with your group. You will learn about the people who built this railroad, where it was built, how it was built and the dangers of building it, and the Native Americans whose way of life was put in jeopardy along with the buffalo. Enjoy looking at pictures, reading about this railroad and looking at video. You will be given 30 minutes to do this. Next, take 10 minutes and write in your journal how you felt by what you read and saw, and write down any questions you may have. The last 15 minutes of class will be whole group when we will come together, discuss anything that was interesting or confusing to you and try to answer any questions you may have. So get with your group, get a lap top and go explore the following sites and learn more about this amazing railroad!
Where was the Transcontinental Railroad built?
This is a map of the route of the Transcontinental RailroadWatch the following video clip about the building of "US". This one minute video shows the American spirit.
http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us/videos/transcontinental-railroad
Watch a video of "May 10" in history. It shows several things in history that happened on May 10, but in different years. Click on the link below and look for the answers to these questions:
http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us/videos/transcontinental-railroad
Watch a video of "May 10" in history. It shows several things in history that happened on May 10, but in different years. Click on the link below and look for the answers to these questions:
- What were the names of the two railroad companies who built the Transcontinental Railroad?
- Where did each company start building their portion of the railroad?
- Where did the two railroads meet?
- http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/transcontinental-railroad-completed?cmpid=INT_Outbrain_TDIH_HIS&obref=obnetwork
- Using the link below, look at the different pictures and maps of the transcontinental railroad. After seeing all of the railroad lines in the eastern part of the United States, can you better understand how important the Transcontinental Railroad will be to the western portion of the United States? Do you think this area will draw more settlers once the Transcontinental Railroad is completed? Why? If more people come to this area and start farming, how can the railroad help them? How will more farmers who raise animals and produce help the country?
- http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=transcontinental+railroad&qpvt=transcontinental+railroad&FORM=IGRE#a
wHAT TWO COMPANIES constructed THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD?
View the website below to discover facts about the Central Pacific Railroad company. Did they build the portion of the Transcontinental Railroad from Sacramento, California eastward or from Omaha, Nebraska westward?
http://cprr.org/Museum/index.html#
Browse the pictures in the website below. The Union Pacific Company built railroads in many different locations. Use the menu window on the left side of this website to navigate through the site.
http://www.up.com/aboutup/history/photos/alfred_hart/index.htm
http://cprr.org/Museum/index.html#
Browse the pictures in the website below. The Union Pacific Company built railroads in many different locations. Use the menu window on the left side of this website to navigate through the site.
http://www.up.com/aboutup/history/photos/alfred_hart/index.htm
Who hELPED built the Transcontinental Railroad?
Go to the link below and look at pictures of Native Americans on the plains, Chinese workers and others. Be sure to read the captions under each picture. Go to the menu bar on the left, click on and read the first six pages. Be sure to discuss the pictures and your feelings about them with your partners. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/photo-gallery/tcrr-gallery/
View another link and read more about the Chinese workers. How was their work ethic (how hard they worked and the care they took in their work) different than the other workers? http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/tcrr-cprr/
See how the Chinese workers lived and worked by exploring the following site. The Chinese workers ate different food than the other workers. What did they eat? They drank a lot of hot tea. Their diet was part of their culture, and overall, had better nutrition than the other workers, therefore they were sick less often and didn't miss work as much as the other workers.
http://cprr.org/Museum/Chinese_Syllabus.html
View another link and read more about the Chinese workers. How was their work ethic (how hard they worked and the care they took in their work) different than the other workers? http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/tcrr-cprr/
See how the Chinese workers lived and worked by exploring the following site. The Chinese workers ate different food than the other workers. What did they eat? They drank a lot of hot tea. Their diet was part of their culture, and overall, had better nutrition than the other workers, therefore they were sick less often and didn't miss work as much as the other workers.
http://cprr.org/Museum/Chinese_Syllabus.html
Nitroglycerin
Read page 76 to learn more about how nitroglycerine was used in building the railroad. Scroll up or down to read more. The book title is The Incredible Transcontinental Railroad by R. Conrad Stein.
http://books.google.com/books?id=5r1_sSIvi-cC&pg=PT75&lpg=PT74&ots=AXHak9Br8a&dq=How+nitroglycerin+was+used+in+the+transcontinental+railroad
Learn more about nitroglycerin and how deadly it is by clicking on the link below and reading about it. Why was it banned?
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/tcrr-nitro/
http://books.google.com/books?id=5r1_sSIvi-cC&pg=PT75&lpg=PT74&ots=AXHak9Br8a&dq=How+nitroglycerin+was+used+in+the+transcontinental+railroad
Learn more about nitroglycerin and how deadly it is by clicking on the link below and reading about it. Why was it banned?
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/tcrr-nitro/
How the Transcontinental Railroad affected the Native Americans on the Plans and the killing of the buffalo herds
The Transcontinental Railroad brought much sorrow to the Native American communities of the Central Plains. Read through the site below and look at the pictures. Imagine you are there. Whose side would you take? Would you be in favor of an exciting railroad project which will open up the West to the world or would you take the side of the Native Americans who were in this country long before any Europeans? It has been said that the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad at that time was as amazing as the Internet is to us today. Would you agree or disagree based on what you have learned? Write your ideas in your journal.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/interview/tcrr-interview/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/interview/tcrr-interview/
The Completion of the Construction of the Transcontinental Railroad!
The Central Pacific and the Union Pacific Railroad lines meet in Utah. The Transcontinental Railroad is complete.Chinese Workers - The National Parks Service wrote a quote honoring the Chinese workers on the Transcontinental Railroad. Browse the many quotes from the various newspapers and people to find what honor was given to the Chinese workers as the two rail lines met at Promontory Point, Utah? (Look for the ”National Parks Service” in blue lettering). Look at photographs and read about how the Chinese workers labored hard and were very respected as they helped build the TRR.
http://cprr.org/Museum/Done!.html#Golden_Spike
What is written on the “Head” of the last (golden) spike driven to complete the TRR? What is written on the side of it? Where is it now located? How big was the spike? Who was the President of the U.S. at the completion? How many years did it take to build the TRR?http://cprr.org/Museum/Done!.html#Golden_Spike
http://cprr.org/Museum/Done!.html#Golden_Spike
What is written on the “Head” of the last (golden) spike driven to complete the TRR? What is written on the side of it? Where is it now located? How big was the spike? Who was the President of the U.S. at the completion? How many years did it take to build the TRR?http://cprr.org/Museum/Done!.html#Golden_Spike
Sources
Nature. (n.d.) Great plains with sky. Retrieved from http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MP900313889.jpg?Download=1
Map of the Transcontinental Railroad from Omaha, NE to Sacramento, CA. (n.d.) Retrieved from
http://www.uni.edu/icss/timeline/5railroadroute.jpg
Advertisement of the Union Pacific. (n.d.) Retrieved from file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Owner/My%20Documents/Downloads/union%20pacific.jpg
Yellow ticket stub. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRq_LqWZk-YGdSfo_SQ0z2lbCJTDbsUtllcFdz7k7D0wBtke2L5
Land advertisement. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/history/lincoln/graphics/transform/transform_pic2.jpg
Advertisement of Quick Time and Cheap Fares. (n.d.) http://puttingzone.com/graphics/GildedAge/Railroads/CPAustraliaChinaJapan.jpg
Chinese workers. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://uploads.neatorama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/459railroadworkers.jpg
Nitroglycerin in vial. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?
Picture of many tepees. Shelter. kids.britannica.com (n.d.) Retrieved from https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSpFPxN3NsICTPJPlnweCICP5uV6kvkuKU3i3R7SMNbMXCyO4cd
Picture of tepees up close. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.old-picture.com/indians/pictures/Plains-Indians.jpg
Picture of two Indians sneaking up on buffalo. (n.d.) http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4540009156643723&pid=1.7&w=228&h=164&c=7&rs=
Buffalo herd. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.5056736603669140&pid=1.7&w=313&h=188&c=7&rs=1
Meeting of the two engines. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MP900313889.jpg?Download=1
Map of the Transcontinental Railroad from Omaha, NE to Sacramento, CA. (n.d.) Retrieved from
http://www.uni.edu/icss/timeline/5railroadroute.jpg
Advertisement of the Union Pacific. (n.d.) Retrieved from file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Owner/My%20Documents/Downloads/union%20pacific.jpg
Yellow ticket stub. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRq_LqWZk-YGdSfo_SQ0z2lbCJTDbsUtllcFdz7k7D0wBtke2L5
Land advertisement. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/history/lincoln/graphics/transform/transform_pic2.jpg
Advertisement of Quick Time and Cheap Fares. (n.d.) http://puttingzone.com/graphics/GildedAge/Railroads/CPAustraliaChinaJapan.jpg
Chinese workers. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://uploads.neatorama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/459railroadworkers.jpg
Nitroglycerin in vial. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?
Picture of many tepees. Shelter. kids.britannica.com (n.d.) Retrieved from https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSpFPxN3NsICTPJPlnweCICP5uV6kvkuKU3i3R7SMNbMXCyO4cd
Picture of tepees up close. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.old-picture.com/indians/pictures/Plains-Indians.jpg
Picture of two Indians sneaking up on buffalo. (n.d.) http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4540009156643723&pid=1.7&w=228&h=164&c=7&rs=
Buffalo herd. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.5056736603669140&pid=1.7&w=313&h=188&c=7&rs=1
Meeting of the two engines. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/images/MP900313889.jpg?Download=1
Created by Faye Rogers ([email protected]); last updated on July 9, 2013.