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# Chapter 12.3 - U.S. History - Railroads Open the West The 1860s saw the extension of railroads from the Atlantic coast across the Mississippi River, opening up the West for expansion. Public desire for a transcontinental railroad, spanning the entire continent, was significant. ## The First Tran...

# Chapter 12.3 - U.S. History - Railroads Open the West The 1860s saw the extension of railroads from the Atlantic coast across the Mississippi River, opening up the West for expansion. Public desire for a transcontinental railroad, spanning the entire continent, was significant. ## The First Transcontinental Railroad The Central Pacific Railroad Company, established in 1861 and led by C.P. Huntington, began its construction from Sacramento, California. Simultaneously, the Union Pacific Railroad, initiated from Omaha, Nebraska, set out to meet the Central Pacific. The Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 authorized the project and facilitated the construction by providing land grants and other economic support. ## Crossing the Challenges The construction of the railroad encountered many significant difficulties: * **Financing:** Securing sufficient funding was a major challenge, especially given the vastness of the project and the considerable initial investment. * **Terrain Difficult:** Traveling across the Sierra Nevada mountains and the Great Plains presented extremely challenging terrain. * **Labor shortages:** The completion relied on immigrant labor from soldiers, former slaves, Irish and Chinese immigrants. This created labor shortages, fierce competition, and often led to hazardous working conditions. * **Safety concerns:** Frequent accidents, disease, Indian attacks, and harsh weather conditions often led to death among workers, making the jobs dangerous. ## Railroads in the West * **Economic Significance:** The railroad companies played a significant role in the development of Western economies and in encouraging settlement of the vast American West. * **Increased Travel Time:** The construction of the railroads decreased travel time significantly, from 4 months to just 10 days. * **Increased Transportation Needs:** The railroad also met the expanding transportation needs of new industries and industries of the time. In 1869, the two companies, Central Pacific and Union Pacific, finally met at Promontory Point, Utah, marking the completion of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States. This important event significantly impacted settlement patterns, fostered industrial growth, and reduced travel time substantially, transforming the West.