The Railroad was the first transportation system that connected the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts of the United States. The Railroad was one of the most technological transportation device in the 19th century and was known as helpful throughout the time for economic benefits. It established the nations economic infrastructure for the future so that they could end the traffic with stagecoach lines and wagon trains. It provided a much quicker and cheaper way of transportation of emigrants and goods. This allowed the railroad, bankers and the government to promote the worldwide migration to attract specific populations for agricultural progress with sales of land grants, and then provided farmers with the transportation of crops.
The workers were mainly from the Union Pacific, consisting of army vets and Irishmen. The Central Pacific was facing a shortage of workers a lot so they relied on Chinese emigrant labors for the construction. The more the railroad would extend out into the West, the more population came with it. It had established a strong system for commerce and trade, resulting in the lack of Indian Territory.The railroad had made it easier for monopoly's to form, some being the biggest scandal of them all, the Credit Mobilier. Durant had come up with the plan to have Credit Mobilier subcontract to do the actual track work. He gained control of the company by buying out one of the employee's. He was charging Union Pacific often twice or more the customary cost for track work, thus paying himself. This was to mire down Union Pacific work. The railroad was known as a very useful economic benefit for the nation and also connected social life or differences to political philosophy's and scandals.
AP Themes:
Economic Transformation: Many land grants along with economic profit from the transportation of goods.
Political: Scandals with giving stocks to political officials from company's creating monopoly's.
Environmental: The places that railroads were being built all had to be based upon the land and the environment.
Wonderful Blog post. Very good information about the Scandals and how the railroad affected Indian territory.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on your blog. i did the gilded age as well, however i like how you went more in depth about the rail roads specifically and its effect.
ReplyDeleteI like how you talked about the railroads and explained how that could change americas polotics. The railroads had a big part in Americas economy and the Gilded age. Good job.
ReplyDeleteYou're blog was very helpful. I like how much you covered about the railroads, and it was easy to read. I feel this would be a good blog to look back on for studying. Great job.
ReplyDeleteGood blog. Like how you explained how important railroads were in the gilded age. Also good job explaining what the effects of the railroads were.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! I'm really glad you went in depths with railroads. Great connections on the AP themes too!
ReplyDeleteHey Georgie!
ReplyDeleteSweet blog and sweet profile quote.
Anyway- one question for you, how did the economic problems and successes around railroads compare to the modes of transportation today?
Mr. Curtis
Nice blog! good job showing the connections of how the railroads brought around jobs and monopolies, and population to the west.
ReplyDelete