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Period: to
Railroads
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Mississippi to the Pacific
Asa Whitney, 1845, proposed the idea of a railroad stretching between the Mississippi River and the Pacific ocean. The Oregon boundry was established in 1846; in 1848, territories were acquisitioned from Mexico and the discovery of Gold in California in 1849. All of these things gained support for the building ot the railroad. -
Finding Land
Congress surveys land for possible routes. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
Stephan Douglas intended to create a line from Chicago, contraversy between north and south delayed the plans. -
Congress Approves
Congress passes legislation for construction of the railroad. Able to be built by two companies. -
Beginning of history.
Union Pacific RR started laying track in Omaha, Nebraska; Cantral Pacific RR, in Sacramento California. This was the beginning of the Transcontinental Railroad. -
Completed Railroad
Lines met in Promontory Summit, Utah. Golden spike connected the tracks. -
Additional tracks created
Nothern Pacific RR stretched from Lake Superior to Portland; Sante Fe from Atchins, Kansas to Los Angeles. The Southern Pacific RR connected Los Angeles to New Orleans. -
BACKGROUND
The Great Northern, fifth track, was completed in 1893. all of these companies recieved land grants and the railroads themselves aided in western settlment, growth in mining, farming, cattle raising and modernizing the frontier.
