The Transcontinental Railroad

U.S. History Gilded Age The Transcontinental Railroad
Students learn about the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad and analyze the effect it had on the American West and the entire country’s economy. Then they describe some of the negative results of the railway system construction in the United States.

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Overview

In this experience, students predict how railroads impacted development of the United States. Then they watch a video and read an article in order to identify effects the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad had on America. Next they analyze the connection between the railroads and economic growth. Finally they examine some of the negative results of the railway system on the United States.

Objectives:

  • Analyze the economic impact of the Transcontinental Railroad.
  • Explain the environmental impact the Transcontinental Railroad.


Before the railroad connected America’s east and west coasts, it took travelers months to cross the country along the wagon trails. Once the Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869, the travel time was reduced to one week. The Transcontinental Railroad connection and other rail lines that would follow over the next half century transformed the western United States and the economy of the entire country.

Objectives:

  • Analyze the economic impact of the Transcontinental Railroad.
  • Explain the environmental impact the Transcontinental Railroad.


photograph of group of people alongside a railroad engine

Celebration of Completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad


The Union Pacific Railway and the Central Pacific Railway met in May of 1869 in Promontory Summit, Utah. It was now possible to travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific across the great lands of the United States. The entire country celebrated this accomplishment. As a result of the railroads, life began to change quickly for all Americans.


Think about some of the ways that life may have changed as a result of the railroad. Predict how the railroad impacted the development of the United States.

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Sample answers:

  • People were now able to travel more easily from point to point, which encouraged more people to move westward.
  • It was easier to move supplies, raw materials, and finished goods across the United States.
  • The railroads undermined the traditional way of life of the American Indians.
  • Laying tracks across large open spaces also had a negative impact on the environment.


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The Complete List of Learning Experiences in Gilded Age Unit.
U.S. History Gilded Age Gilded Age: Vocabulary
Gilded Age: Vocabulary
Gilded Age: STAAR Practice Test
Gilded Age: Review
U.S. History Gilded Age The Transcontinental Railroad
The Transcontinental Railroad
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Western Industries: Mining, Ranching, Farming
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U.S. History Gilded Age The Gilded Age: Review
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Big Business and Industrialization
U.S. History Gilded Age Social Issues of the Gilded Age
Social Issues of the Gilded Age
U.S. History Gilded Age The Rise of Labor Unions
The Rise of Labor Unions
U.S. History Gilded Age Policies Towards American Indians
Policies Towards American Indians
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