Completed in 1869, the Transcontinental Railroad opened new doors for the United States. In order for this to happen though, some had to be closed. Our country was in desperate need on some of these changes, but some we could have lived without. This great connection of the coasts brought with it many positive and negative effects on the Native Americans, society, and the environment. The Transcontinental Railroad definitely changed the lives of Native Americans forever. For example, conflicts arose as the railroad project continued westward. Because of this, military were brought in to fight the Native Americans. They were forced to relocate from their lands. This resulted in widespread destruction of their cultures and way of life. Most
It effected everyone, everywhere, for good or bad, but has shaped how our world is today. The construction of the Transcontinental Railroad had a big effect on Native Americans. White settlers entering their land and disturbing them caused many disputes. The Transcontinental Railroad and new formed treaties basically forced the Indians onto reserves. They depended upon the buffalo herds for food and hides, and the number of buffalo were constantly decreasing.
In the 19th century, the Manifest Destiny was a belief that was widely held that the destiny of American settlers was to expand and move across the continent to spread their traditions and their institutions, while at the same time enlightening more primitive nations. The American settlers of the time considered Indians and Hispanics to be inferior and therefore deserving of cultivation. Expansion westward seemed perfectly natural to many Americans in the mid-nineteenth century. Polk himself had always been an expansionist, and this boosted his popularity with voters.
Specifically, between 1869 and 1890, it enabled the westward expansion that allowed the creation of more settlements in the Midwestern plains all through to the West Coast. The rail route also served a significant role in designating administrative posts and even urban settlements that later evolved into the major cities. It is a fair statement to conclude, the majority of the factors that make America what it is today including technology, democracy, and culture to include immigration, can all be traced to the westward expansion of the railroad
The Transcontinental Railroad The completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad was an important event in the United States history. There were many challenges in building it, but after it was finished, it connected the East Coast of the United States to the West Coast. The railroad took three whole years to build, with the help of two railroad companies and thousands of other hired workers.
The early railroad was revolutionary to the transportation industry in America during the Industrial Revolution. It connected the country from the East to the West and changed the formation of the United States and other aspects of the country forever including its economy and population. It had a large impact on trade in the United States and boosted capital, especially in the West. With these railroads, people could travel much more quickly and more efficiently, as well as, transport goods and messages in a timely fashion to others miles away, when any other means would be unconventional or much slower, such as walking or by horseback. The railroad not only impacted the U.S. economy, but it also had a significant impact on social
It would be harder to get from place to place if there was never the Transcontinental Railroad, which surely would have influenced the ideas of other methods of transportation, like cars and planes. One of the most important points from Document F quotes: “Had it not been for these captains of industry, the free world might have lost the First World War and most certainly have lost the second.” They changed and protected the U.S. and the right of freedom with their work, and that’s
Native Americans did steal livestock and equipment, pulled up tracks, and even derailed locomotives. The Indians were not such a problem compared to the other things they faced. The first major problem was it was very difficult for them to find workers. Without employees there would be no way of building and placing the rails which means no railroads. This made some the owners furious.
The Transcontinental Railroad is an important part of American history. This paper will include the influences that caused the Transcontinental Railroad, the union pacific A Transcontinental Railroad had been talked about for decades. It would be a railroad that would connect the East and western part of the country. When Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States in 1860, talk of the railroad was set aside by the U.S. Congress due to talk of war.
Since the Transcontinental Railroad was created, the Native Americans land and culture was impacted by the Western Expansion. People thought the railroad was a positive thing because it improved transportation and communication, but many Native Americans were harmed because of it. During the years of 1850 to 1890, the Native Americans were forced off their land because they were in the way of the making of the railroad and the discovery of gold. Also, Americans broke the treaty of Fort Laramie, caused the Battle of Little Bighorn, and lost many lives because of their selfishness for the gold. In addition to that, Native American’s culture changed throughout time.
-PBS (WHY). This greatly affected the Indians since they lost so many lives that day. The adaptation to the whites, the extinction of buffalo, and the domination of whites are just some of the reasons how the Native Americans land and culture was affected by the Westward Expansion. Although the Native Americans lost much of their homeland and their way of life, they still proved that even threw the worst conditions possible they stick together and fight through
The Tremendous Impact of Railroads on America In the late 19th century, railroads propelled America into an era of unprecedented growth, prosperity, and convenient transportation. Prior to the building of the railroads, America lacked the proper and rapid transportation to make traveling across the country economical or practical. Lengthy travel was often cumbersome, costly, and dangerous.
Business owners made lots of money from the railroads because they were able to transport goods farther and faster with ease. Although the railroads tremendously impacted businesses and therefore the economy, the native americans were negatively impacted because the railroads were being laid on “their” land. This caused distrust between the settlers and the natives because of the “disrespect” for the land. Because of the new ways of transportation, the industrial revolution took place causing skilled artisans to be replaced by unskilled workers that used large complex machines.