Transcontinental Railroad Research Paper

The Transcontinental Railroad:
A Double Edged Sword

David B Jayroe II
Hist233
Professor Para
November 15, 2014

The Transcontinental Railroad:
A Double Edged Sword January 24, 1948 was the day that drastically changed the history of America. This day, James W. Marshal discovered gold in the south fork of the American River, while building a saw mill for Captain John Sutter. Despite his attempts to conceal his discovery, the news spread quickly across the country, setting the California Gold Rush of 1849 into motion. The discovery sent thousands of people rushing to the Californian coast for gold.1 However the only means of travel were a daunting wagon ride across the country or traveling by boat around South America, both requiring
The act tasked The Union Pacific Railroad Company and the Central Pacific Railroad Company with building the new transcontinental railway. Construction began in 1863. The Central Pacific Railroad Company began in building east from Sacramento, California, while The Union Pacific Railroad Company built west from the Missouri River. The plans called for each company to build towards each other until they met. After seven years of building, on May 6, 1869, the final spike was driven into the ground of Promontory, Utah. The following day. May 7, 1869, the first train rumbled across the railway from California towards the east coast. The Transcontinental Railroad was deemed a success for America, however it was detrimental to the Native Americans.2
It took a country that was coming out of a civil war, and united it. It opened the door for international trade, and allowed goods to be shipped quickly and cost efficiently across the country from coast to coast. It allowed for the people to spread out and settle across the land, and for people to travel back and forth for goods. Though it was a complete success for American’s, it was the beginning of the end for Native Americans. After the completion of The Transcontinental Railroad, the Native Americans faced many terrible years. They lost the land they were promised, and were forced onto reservations, where tribes were forced together. Their once rich hunting grounds were depleted, and they were once again forced to find a new way to survive. The building and completion of The Transcontinental Railroad was a double edged sword that changed the future for both the Americans and the Native