6 Questions
Who granted the opportunity to build the first Transcontinental Railroad in the United States?
President Abraham Lincoln
Which mountain range presented a major challenge for the Central Pacific Railroad during the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad?
Sierra Nevada mountain range in California
Where was the Transcontinental Railroad completed, marking a significant milestone in 1869?
Promontory Summit, Utah
What was the impact of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on travel time across the country?
Reduced from 6 months to 7 days
Which two companies were granted the opportunity to build the Transcontinental Railroad?
Union Pacific Railroad and Central Pacific Railroad
Who were the primary laborers working on laying track through the Sierra Nevada mountain range?
Laborers from Ireland and China
Study Notes
- In the 1850s, the fastest way to travel over land in the United States was by train, but there were no railroad lines spanning the entire country.
- President Abraham Lincoln granted two companies, Union Pacific Railroad and Central Pacific Railroad, the opportunity to build the first Transcontinental Railroad to unite the country by rail.
- The Central Pacific Railroad faced a major challenge as it had to lay track through the difficult Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, with laborers from Ireland and China doing most of the hard work.
- The Union Pacific Railroad workers in the East were progressing quickly on flat plains but faced conflicts with Native American tribes whose land they were intruding upon.
- The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit, Utah, by driving the final Golden Spike, marked a significant milestone that reduced a 6-month wagon journey across the country to just 7 days, facilitating Westward Expansion and changing the American West forever.
Test your knowledge on the history of the Transcontinental Railroad in the United States, including the challenges faced during its construction and the impact it had on the country's development.
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