The document discusses the growth of railroads in the United States during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Railroads helped the country by enabling the transport of passengers and goods across long distances, facilitating Western expansion and the growth of cities. However, their rapid growth also led to corruption and required government regulation. The first transcontinental railroad connecting the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads was completed in 1869, though the work was dangerous and costly in lives.

1. Section #2
(The Age of Railroads)

2. Quick-Write
 What types of technology or
innovation have the greatest impact
on our lives today? Why?

3. Main Idea
 Growth of Railroads
 Helped the Country
 Led to corruption
 Required government regulation

4. Railroads grow
• New passenger and sleeping cars built
• Products shipped by rail
• Cities with rail lines grew (Chicago)
• Increased Western growth

5. 1. In what year were the most miles of track?
2. In what region overall were the most miles of track?
3. In what region were there no railroads in 1840 and

6. Railroads Span time & space
 RRs made local transit reliable and
westward expansion possible
 The US government saw the
importance of RRs so they gave
huge land grants and loans to the
RR companies

7.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=P4qYUnm4ZYY

8. Transcontinental Railroad
 May 10, 1869- Central Pacific and
Union Pacific Railroads met in Utah to
create the nation’s 1st
Transcontinental
Railroad
 The life of railroad workers was
dangerous: disease, injuries, and
attacks from Native Americans killed
many workers

9. Workers
 CP=Chinese immigrants
 UP=Irish immigrants and Civil War vets

11. Reality of the Rails

15. William Le Baron Jenney: American architect and
engineer who became known as the Father of the
American skyscraper
William Kelly: American ironmaster who invented a
new process of steelmaking (Bessemer process)

16. Big Question:
Explain how therailroad industry was
both helping and hurting our country
during thelate1800sand early 1900s.

17. Positives of RR growth Negatives of RR growth
Pg. 443- 445
-Transportation for people
To travel or move
-