8.5 The Transcontinental Railroad

American settlers faced a long and difficult journey as they traveled from the East Coast to the West Coast in the early nineteenth century. These difficulties eventually resulted in

• peace between settlers and American Indians.

• the construction of faster, safer ships.

• the development of a transcontinental railroad.

• the end of settlement on the western frontier.

Which statement about the journey across the American continent in a covered wagon in the early 1800s is accurate?

• Travel in covered wagons was generally safe.

• The trip included the threat of disease and lack of water.

• The trips were lengthy and lasted a month or two.

• Most travelers hid from American Indians and avoided conflict.

To construct the transcontinental railroad, the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroad companies built tracks

• that started in the East and ran all the way to the West.

• from the West Coast that wound around the mountains.

• with one starting from the East and one starting from the West, meeting at a midway point.

• from the West Coast that connected the South with the West.

What was the most important reason for building the transcontinental railroad?

• The railroad would help settlers travel across the continent to reach the West Coast for the first time.

• The railroad would make travel across the continent much faster, easier, and safer.

• The railroad would make it possible to expand the United States from the East Coast to the West Coast.

• The railroad would change the landscape by boring through the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Who proposed the building of a transcontinental railroad to Congress in 1845?

• Asa Whitney

• Theodore Judah

• Thomas Durant

• Leland Stanford

What did the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 accomplish?

• It created railway lines that connected the North to the South.

• It stimulated the building of a transcontinental railroad.

• It helped develop the West by providing land grants to settle there.

• It made the transfer of goods possible during the Civil War

Theodore Judah was an engineer who

• built the first railroad in the United States.

• owned and ran a large shipping company.

• began the Union Pacific Railroad.

• helped start the Central Pacific Railroad.

What was the main reason why Leland Stanford and Thomas Durant wanted to build a transcontinental railroad?

• to get involved in politics

• to locate gold and silver

• to spread their religion

• to make money

Which group of workers filled labor shortages to build the transcontinental railroad before the end of the Civil War?

• Chinese Laborers

• American Indian laborers

• Union soldiers

• enslaved workers

What obstacle was faced by the Union Pacific railroad workers but not the Central Pacific workers?

• steep mountains

• conflict with American Indians

• harsh weather conditions

• worker shortages