Railroads, Ranches and Cow Towns Flashcards
What was the TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD?
A railroad that united the East and the West, running across all of the USA.
What did Lincoln approve in 1862?
PACIFIC RAILROAD ACT
What did the PACIFIC RAILROAD ACT promise?
Promised to provide money to companies willing to build a railroad connecting the East and the West of the USA>
What did the UNION PACIFIC build?
Built from the East to the West.
What did the CENTRAL PACIFIC build?
Built from the West to the East.
When was the railroad completed?
Completed by 1869.
What were railroad companies given to CONSTRUCT the railroad?
Given land and money.
What was the RAILROADS IMPACT on RAILROAD COMPANIES AND INVESTORS?
Railroads made these companies and investors wealthy.
What was the RAILROADS IMPACT on NATIVES?
Railroads cut through Native American lands and disrupted the hunting ground of the Buffalo.
Railroads also encouraged more settlers and cattle ranchers to settle on Natives’ land.
What was the RAILROADS IMPACT on WORKERS?
Over 12000 workers were CHINESE IMMIGRANTS - they received little pay and worked in dangerous conditions.
Accident rates amongst workers were high and frequent (Sierra Nevada Mountains)
What was the RAILROADS IMPACT on the USA?
New towns were created on the railroad lines - many were violent, drunken and unmoral.
Yet, towns soon grew and law and order was improved.
The journey across the USA could be made in days instead of months.
Who did people sell CATTLE to?
Many people drove their cattle to railroad stops and sold the beef to cities or to INDIAN AGENTS (managed Native reservations)
What was the LONG DRIVE?
Taking cattle over to the plains to be sold.
What did the LONG DRIVE cause?
Caused conflict with Natives whose hunting grounds for the buffalo were disrupted by CATTLEMEN.
What was a COW TOWN?
Located on railroad lines - they became places where cattle were bought and sold.
Cowboys could rest and spend wages at cow towns.
