Railroads And Its Impact On The Development Of Washington

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.

There were 3 railroad tycoons that helped grow Washington state. These tycoons were Henry Villard, Jay Cooke and James Hill. All of these men helped build a railroad to Washington in some way or another. Building a railroad was important because it meant that people could travel easier and faster to Washington. This made Washington’s population grow.

The rise of cities and large towns altered the culture and economy of the Pacific Northwest in tremendous ways. At that time, there was a new type of economic and social development emerged in the town of Portland and around Puget Sound. Therefore, Portland had suddenly became the most important city in the Pacific Northwest. Farm products from the Willamette Valley, minerals from Idaho, and wheat from around Walla Walla are all transported to Portland’s market through Columbia and Willamette rivers. This leads to the emergence of an urban and industrial economy that would eventually surpass and engulf the farm economy started in the Willamette Valley during the 1850s and after.

The railroad turned the city into a mining agriculture and a retail center (Doc D). This shows that the Transcontinental Railroad

During the period of 1815-1860, a Transportation Revolution swept through America (Murrin pg. 293). The improvements in transportation included more and better roads. steamboats, canals, and railroads (Murrin pg. 293). These new railroads were able to connect old communities with previously isolated areas (Murrin pg. 293). In 1815 the United States was a rural area stretching from old settlements on the Atlantic coast to the trans-Appalachian west, with transportation facilities spanning from primitive and nonexistent (Murrin pg. 294).

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.

Transcontinential Railroad had a huge impact on the Native Ameriacans, Society and the Environment. Here is one example of how the Native Americans were impacted: Some of the hardships they faced were very little food, only ate once during their working hours. They worked long hours for very little money, and they had ages 10 and up working. Transcontinential Railroad helped the society grow with the transportation it provided. It replaced wagon trains of previous decades which became usless.

The rail system allowed people and manufactured goods to be transported quickly and for long distances. This was significant for who had migrated due to the discovery of resources such as iron and gold (Railroads and Westward Expansion,

Due to increasing population and more prospectors in the region, mining was created to help increase the chances of finding more minerals to strike rich. Soon, logging industries comes in to make big money by selling lumber to other states and help other local businesses. Logging made making railroads easier and faster with constant, steady supplies of lumber. After railroads were completed, settlers and immigrants stormed in Washington for a new, bright civilization and land to make money. The discovery of gold introduced an infrastructure community in Washington and helped created the future that we are now living in

For twenty years after the Gold Rush, Americans in California felt extremely remote from the rest of the United States. The early Forty-Niners of the California Gold Rush wishing to come to California were faced with limited options. Some options included sailing around South America from the Atlantic which could take up to eight months or travel by land but that came with many dangers as well. The railroads helped establish countless towns and settlements, it paved the way to abundant mineral deposits and fertile tracts of pastures and farmland, and created new markets for eastern goods. For many, the dream of a transcontinental railroad symbolized all sorts of hopes for better things.

The lack of convenience transportation creating the opportunity for people to build a railroad. The railroad arrived at 1880s and it is marked as one of the key turning points in the Pacific Northwest. With the introduction of railroads in the area, it increased the economics of the Pacific Northwest by using the railroads as a transportation that’s makes them able to travel faster. The railroads exported the Northwest and also imported the East to the Northwest. Conquering distance, railroads is able to disseminate the modernizing ways of the 19th century.

Leah Kurland 5/7/18 US-1/CPE Transcontinental Railroad Focus / Comprehension Questions (14 pts) Directions: Read the handout , watch the video clip and answer the following questions in complete sentences, including a proper topic sentence. Post your responses to the Schoology drop box provided. Video Notes: - Great plains → vast; untouched - Takes 6 months to cross - Lincoln signs transcontinental railroad into effect; 2,000 miles long - The Union Pacific starts from Omaha - Central Pacific starts in Sacramento - They meet in Utah; promontory point - Government doesn’t have enough money; pay companies in federal land - Must dig through the mountain; use Chinese laborers for the most deadly jobs - Use an explosive to demolish

With the advent of the railroad, many of these issues disappeared. Railroads had a major impact on advancing the American economy, transforming America into a modern society, and improving an antiquated transportation system. The building of railroads created rapid economic growth in America. Railroad companies employed more than one million workers to build and maintain railroads. At the same time, coal, timber, and steel industries employed thousands of workers to provide the supplies necessary to build railroads (Chapter 12 Industrialization).

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.

The building of roads, canals and railroads played a large role in the United States during the 1800s. They served the purpose of connecting towns and settlements so that goods could be transported quickly and more efficiently. These goods could be transported fast, cheap and in safe way through the Erie Canal that was built to connect the Great Lakes to New York. Railroads were important during Civil War as well, because it helped in the transportation of goods, supplies and weapons when necessary. These new forms of transportation shaped the United States into the place that it is today.