Prior Events
The Need for a Railroad
Before the Railroad was built, travel across the country was expensive, slow, and dangerous.
Routes before Railroad.
(Map, Houghton Mifflin)
(Map, Houghton Mifflin)
(Photo, Library of Congress)
Wagon Trains faced Native Americans, mountains and
unpredictable weather.
(Photo, Utah History for Kids)
unpredictable weather.
(Photo, Utah History for Kids)
The Civil War
Western States were isolated by plains and mountains; President Lincoln worried they would secede like the South. He pushed hard for the Railroad, since it would unite the country, speed military transportation, and spread commerce.
(Map, Grolier Interactive)
Pacific Railway Act
The Act authorized the Central Pacific (CP) to build eastward, and the Union Pacific (UP) westward. View Transcript with important provisions annotated.
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(Photo, The National Archives)
Lincoln signed the Act in 1862.
(Photo, Library of Congress)
(Photo, Library of Congress)
UP's acceptance.
(Photo, CPRR.org and The National Archives)
(Photo, CPRR.org and The National Archives)
Virginia City Silver
Silver discovered near Virginia City provided financial incentive to build through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. They would prove to be a huge obstacle.
Virginia City, 1861.
(Picture, Nevada Observer)
(Picture, Nevada Observer)
Steam Locomotive
The Steam Locomotive was the main locomotive on the Railroad and allowed trains to go faster, farther, and carry heavier loads.
Governor Stanford locomotive.
(Photo, City of Roseville, California)
(Photo, City of Roseville, California)
When Johnny Comes Marching Home. The Civil War (Original Soundtrack).
Jaqueline Schwab, Jay Ungar, Matt Glaser, Molly Mason, Peter Amidon & Yonatin Matlin. 1990.
Copyright © Nonesuch Records / Elektra Entertainment.
All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Courtesy of Nonesuch Records / Elektra Entertainment.
Jaqueline Schwab, Jay Ungar, Matt Glaser, Molly Mason, Peter Amidon & Yonatin Matlin. 1990.
Copyright © Nonesuch Records / Elektra Entertainment.
All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Courtesy of Nonesuch Records / Elektra Entertainment.