Unit 8: Railroads and Farming Boom

The states economic growth had been slowed by its​ (a)   problems. Texas rivers were either too swallow or ​ (b)   for shipping goods and dirt roads turned to mud during wet weather.

In 1861 there were about ​ (c)   miles of rail lines in Texas. However, the ​ (d)   interrupted plans for new railroad construction. Meanwhile, the US had almost ​ (e)   of track in 1870. A transcontinental railroad was complete in 1869

​ (a)   grants and other forms of government aid helped create a railroad​ (b)  

A few large companies bought many of the railroads in Texas. These companies such as the Southern ​ (c)   and the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe soon dominated railroad construction across the ​ (d)   . Between 1879 and 1889, railroad crews laid​ (e)   miles of track in Texas.

Draw conclusions: With the expansion of the railroad industry, do you think this will lead to a more modern and industrialized Texas and less of the wild frontier it historically was?

(Claim-Evidence-Reasoning)

Causes of the Railroad Boom:

The demand for cheap​ (a)   transportation.

The funding of railroad construction by ​ (b)   and ​ (c)  

The state ​ (d)   policy for railroad funding.

The ​ (e)   of Texas agriculture and industry

The promise of new business opportunities

Effects of the Railroad Boom

The continued settlement of the West Texas ​ (a)  

The growth of ​ (b)   (urbanization) along rail lines.

The expansion of ​ (c)   agriculture.​

The growth of new ​ (d)   related to railroads (growth of industry).

The decline of cities not along the rail lines.