The same kind of railway transcontinental corridor would not occur in canada until later in the century. The impact of the transcontinental railroad on native. In the early history of british north america, efforts were directed primarily at. Competition begins for second transcontinental line. Sam vong is a curator of asian pacific american history at the national museum of american history.
The completion of the transcontinental railroad business. So, on july 20th, 1871 the colony of bc joined canada. The completion of canadas first transcontinental railway with the driving of the last spike at. The first transcontinental railroad known originally as the pacific railroad and later as the overland route was a 1,912mile 3,077 km continuous railroad line constructed between 1863 and 1869 that connected the existing eastern u. Jul 27, 2019 canadas transcontinental railway completed at a remote spot called craigellachie in the mountains of british columbia, the last spike is driven into canadas first transcontinental railway. The railway was originally built between eastern canada and british columbia between 1881 and 1885 connecting with ottawa valley and georgian bay area lines built earlier, fulfilling a promise extended to british columbia when it entered confederation in 1871. Evidence from entrepreneurs declared expectations, an empirical entry decision model, and expost information. Part 1 starting the transcontinental railroad 18611865 by philip chin on may 10, 2014, on the 145th anniversary of the golden spike ceremony that marked the completion of the first transcontinental railroad, the united states department of labor enshrined the chinese railroad workers in their hall of heroes. Three competing private companies built the railroad, one starting in the east, the other two in the west, allowing the railroad to meet in the middle. In october 1903 the government of sir wilfrid laurier committed itself to the construction of a third transcontinental railway, despite the existence of the canadian pacific railway and.
The construction of the first great transcontinental railway in canada is an epic in itself and has furnished material for many books on the subject. Under dominion act 3 edward vii chapter 71, october 24, 1903. In other words, the canada united states border has historically. Railway history in canada the canadian encyclopedia. This measure would designate may 10, 2019, as the 150th anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in california, and would encourage all californians to observe that anniversary and to celebrate the tireless efforts of all of those who overcame brutal obstacles, both natural and technological, to achieve the dream of uniting the country from coast to coast. Building the trans canada railroad the politics it was the dream of prime minster sir john a. The sector has close to 4,000 employees, the majority of which are based in the united states. Suffice it to say, here, that the completion of the canadian pacific railway from coast to coast in 1885 ended the experimental phase of canadian railway construction. Its platform is comprised of one premedia studio and 26 production plants specializing in. Clair river tunnel, formed a continuous rail route between eastern canada and chicago, the longest route in the world under a single management.
Jun 21, 2018 a history of the transcontinental railroad. Thousands of railway workers laid tracks from both the west and the east at the same time. The transcontinental railroad research and evaluate and communicate findings to answer questions or solve problems. Includes extensive notes and bibliography sections. From the chamber of commerce of newyork to the chamber of commerce of san francisco, on the completion of the pacific. The first transcontinental railroad was built crossing the western half of america and it was pieced together between 1863 and 1869. Transcontinental railroad, united states building the world. Digital programming for the transcontinental railroad anniversary is made possible by john and ellen thompson. View hailee chipman transcontinental railroad assignment 6797190. In 1880, the canadian pacific railway received the. Read the information about the transcontinental railroads and exam ine the map. North americas first transcontinental railroad known originally as the pacific railroad and later as the overland route was a 1,912mile 3,077 km continuous railroad line constructed between 1863 and 1869 that connected the existing eastern u. The pacific railroad was the last part of the transcontinental railroad to be built.
They provided the money to create the central paci. The possibility of railroads connecting the atlantic and pacific coasts was discussed in the congress even before the treaty with england which settled the question of the oregon boundary in 1846. Transcontinental railroad lesson plans, activities union pacific railroad history. But it was not easy to get workers to do such arduous labor. Watch the transcontinental railroad american experience. Being a travellers guide through the united states of america, canada, new brunswick, and novia scotia, was published by the d. Other articles where transcontinental rail line is discussed. This idea was later dismissed after congress could not decide on a route barter 4244. Brief history of the transcontinental railroad completed in 1869, the transcontinental railroad stands to this day as one of the most impressive engineering feats of the modern era. The transcontinental railroad pbs history of the transcontinental railroad. Different historical and geographical circumstances shaping. The iron horse linked california with the rest of the nation and ushered in an era of economic consolidation.
In 1872 an effort was made to organize a company to undertake this enterpriseone much greater than any railway yet. Tc transcontinental is a leader in flexible packaging in the united states, canada and latin america. Macdonald to build a railway from montreal to the pacific ocean. The economic impacts of the transcontinental railroad on. This program would be useful for classes on american history, science and technology, social and cultural history, economics and civics. In california, most people wanted to work near home and go back to their familys dinner table at night. Little is known about life in the railway camps to which the chinese were sent because almost no chinese records or diaries have been found that survive from that time. Theodore judah, a railroad surveyor, urged congress in the 1850s to build the transcontinental railroad with his plan barter 44. The first transcontinental railroad primary source documents document 1. While the race to complete the pacific railroad could perhaps be described as a horse race between two railroad companies, the competition for a transcontinental railroad line across southern california and the southern part of the nation could perhaps be better described as a game of chess. Canadian pacific limited rail corporate archives even so, the railway soon needed new loans from parliament, and its funds ran out as economic depression returned. The bill provided for public land and money to fund the construction of a transcontinental railroad. Between 1881 and 1885, the canadian pacific railway cpr completed a line that spanned from the port of montreal to the pacific coast, fulfilling a condition of british columbia s 1871 entry into the canadian confederation.
Lieutenantgeneral, canadian army corps march 27, 1918. Transcontinentalrailroad moth utah division of state history. Railroads allowed people to bring their furniture to the great plains d. The history of canadas transcontinental transportation network. Union pacific railroad 186569 central pacific railroad 186369 kansas pacific railroad 1870 canadian pacific railway 185385 applying geography to history directions. Create a promotional flyer that you might want to hand out or write a letter to a friend inviting them to join you at the ceremony. Canadas transcontinental railway completed history. In 1872 an effort was made to organize a company to undertake this enterpriseone much greater than any railway yet built anywherebut sir. Describe the purpose, challenges, and economic incentives associated with. The construction of the grand trunk pacific railway across. Transcontinental railroad was first thought about in 1830, because of the invention of the steam locomotive. The pacific railroad made the transcontinental railroad literally a railroad that crossed the north american continent.
The first transcontinental railroad has been called the engineering marvel of the 19th century and a flatout swindle. Kaye lambs history of the canadian pacific railway subsequently supported the nationbuilding strain that was so clearly asserted in. Archaeology, history, and the chinese railroad workers of north america abstract although the labor of the chinese workers who built the first transcontinental railroad and other railroads in the western part of. The pacific railroad made the transcontinental railroad literally a railroad that. Archaeology, history, and the chinese railroad workers of north america abstract although the labor of the chinese workers who built the first transcontinental railroad and other railroads in the western part of the country was pivotal to the development. The national transcontinental railway ntr was a governmentbuilt railway from winnipeg, via sioux lookout, kapuskasing, cochrane and quebec city, to moncton. Transcontinental railways and canadian nationalism introduction.
Transcontinental railroad in the greatest nation of the earth. Canadas transcontinental railway completed at a remote spot called craigellachie in the mountains of british columbia, the last spike is driven into canadas first transcontinental railway. The trip across the overland trails followed by settlers could take four to six months, however, and were treacherous on foot or by wagon. From china to canada excerpt from 1982 book edited by historian edgar wickberg entitled from china to canada. Building the transcanada railroad the politics it was the dream of prime minster sir john a. The completion of canada s first transcontinental railway with the driving of the last spike at craigellachie, british columbia, on november 7, 1885, is an important milestone in canadian history.
The new railroad was much safer and faster and finally linked the east with the west. On may 10, 1869, in a ceremony at promontory, utah, the last rails were laid and the last spike driven, completing the first transcontinental railroad through the united states. Manu karuka is an assistant professor of american studies at barnard college. Mar 25, 2021 leland stanford, a major investor in the central pacific railroad, despised chinese labor, but he hired thousands of chinese workers when construction of the central pacific line began in 1863. Objectives to use prediction as a hook to engage students in the topic of the transcontinental railroad. Be sure to include the who, what, when, where and why of the event.
Its original purpose was the construction of a transcontinental railway. It was 1,776 miles long and served for the atlantic and pacific coasts of the united states to be connected by rail for the first time in history. However, there was a time in our nations history when the train was the biggest advancement in transportation technology. Examines the ideological motivations for building the canadian railway, the. Was the first transcontinental railroad expected to be profitable. Railroads crossed rivers which were difficult to cross earlier 2. Photograph of chinese railway workers taken in 1884 by photographer ernest brown in the mountains of b. Cpkcs merger would create canadausmexico unified railroad. The students will write a letter as an immigrant farmer or miner to their friends and families about how the railroad has changed utahs economy. The story of the canadian pacific railway ss sicamous. And even though they made major contributions to the construction of the transcontinental railroad, these 15,000 to 20,000 chinese immigrants have been largely ignored by history. The transcontinental railroad crosscurricular focus.
The completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 was a major event in california history. The story of postal history in this country is very much one of communication and the spread of both mail and information, with the railroad being integral to that story. The transcontinental railroad history of railroads and. Chineseamerican contribution to the transcontinental railroad. Between 1881 and 1885, the canadian pacific railway cpr completed a line that spanned from the port of montreal to the pacific coast, fulfilling a. To maintain that vast area and to ensure its independence from the united states, it was necessary to build a railway to the west coast. May 21, 2018 transcontinental railroad on may 10, 1869, the last tracks of the united states 1 first crosscountry railroad were laid, making north america 2 the first continent to be spanned from coast to coast by a rail line. Forgotten by society how chinese migrants built the. The building of this rail line was a huge project to connect a transcontinental railroad.
Innis, a history of the canadian pacific railway toronto, 1971. A beginners guide to train travel in canada, with train times, fares, photos. Grenville dodge, who had held the rank of general in the union army, was the chief engineer of the union pa. With its completion, california and the western territories of the u. The transcontinental railroad history of railroads and maps. Arrival of the first canadian pacific transcontinental passenger train at port moody, british columbia, july 4, 1886.
The transcontinental railroad and the asianamerican story. Learn about the amazing engineering feat of the first transcontinental railroad and the ingenious americans who constructed it. The railroad took 7 years to complete and is a 1,907mile contiguous line. National transcontinental railway the canadian encyclopedia. Mar 26, 2021 meanwhile, up north, canadian pacific is the original transcontinental railroad in that country built in the 1880s as a response to the u. The completion of canadas first transcontinental railway with the driving of the last spike at craigellachie, british columbia, on november 7, 1885, is an important milestone in canadian history. The first transcontinental railroad primary source documents. Chief promoter of a transcontinental railroad was asa whitney, a new york merchant active in the china trade who was obsessed with the idea of a railroad to the pacific.
Mark twain chronicled his experiences living and working out west in his book roughing it, published in 1872. Share, comment and suggest new documents at the todays document tumblr blog. The federal government itself built the national transcontinental railway, a line from moncton to winnipeg. Why was the transcontinental railroad beneficial to america. Many may not realize the modern official guide actually predates the 1860s. This product is great for social studies history and language arts reading comprehension. The first transcontinental railroad known originally as the pacific railroad and later as the overland route was a 1,907mile 3,069 km contiguous rai. In the early history of british north america, efforts were directed primarily at improving transportation by waterways and canals. How did the transcontinental railroad change utahs economy. Construction on the transcontinental railroad began in 1863. While it did not include timetables, it did feature every railroad. The pacific railway act of 1862 called for the laying of track by the union pacific up and the central pacific cp, the former going west from omaha and the latter going east from sacramento. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to west.
Canadian pacific railway the canadian encyclopedia. This pdf is a selection from an outofprint volume from the national bureau. Canadas railway history the history of canada cannot be told without acknowledging the vital role that the railways played in its economic growth and development as a prosperous, modern nation. Louis, kansas city, and northern are merged into one continuous line linking toledo with kansas city. Transcontinental railroad construction for the 1st transcontinental railroad was started in 1863 gov. The transcontinental railroad was the biggest government construction project in u. The central pacific railroad began building at sacramento, california. The history of railways in canada shows that there is. Chinese at work on the cpr in mountains the critical thinking. Transcontinental railroad free presentations in powerpoint format. They will learn about the economics of railroad building, the challenges faced by both railroad companies, and see for themselves the lasting legacy of the transcontinental railroad. The building of a transcontinental railway in canada. In 1868 the people of british columbia liked this idea because many were having trouble making money after the end of the gold rush. Over its long history, cpr diversified, establishing hotels, shipping.
Your job is to promote the upcoming joining of the railroads at promontory, utah. As far back as 1848, appletons railroad and steamboat companion. With the addition of british columbia, canada extended from the atlantic to the pacific. This chapter looks at the processes through which the federal government became involved in building the transcontinental railroad and shows the popularity at the congressional level for the railroad and the. Jay gould, american railroad developer and speculator, attempts to use the wabash roads to help create a transcontinental railroad. A transcontinental railroad or transcontinental railway is contiguous railroad trackage that. Railroads provided a faster, safer, and cheaper transportation c. The transcontinental railroad of 1862 for kids and. From moodys municipal and government manual 1961 page 54. The idea for the railroad dates as far back as the 1840s, when new york businessman asa whitney developed the concept after an exhausting and tiresome. G4 how did the transcontinental railroad change utahs economy. Using the story of the transcontinental railroad as a starting point, the national postal museums new gallery cart allows visitors to explore and reflect on an important moment from the beginning of this long, complex history of the united states relationship with its population of asian descent. The completion of the transcontinental railroad at promontory point, utah, on may 10, 1869.
Republican economic policies during the civil war, 170208. Clair river tunnel, formed a continuous rail route between eastern canada and chicago, the. Hailee chipman transcontinental railroad assignment. By rebecca kirkman summary students will read about how the railroad changed utahs economy. The railroad was built over mountains that were impassable in stagecoach b. Chinese americans and the transcontinental railroad.
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