The Transcontinental Railroad Week 1

Why did George Washington and Thomas Jefferson want a national highway?

• to create an alternative to steamboats

• to establish more Western settlements

• to encourage farming along the Ohio River

• to connect Eastern and Western settlements

What did most railroads connect in the 1850s?

• Canada and Mexico

• gold fields in California

• towns across the plains

• cities in the eastern U.S.

What act made federal money available to build railroads?

• Union Pacific Act

• Pacific Railroad Act

• Chinese Immigrant Act

• Veteran Employment Act

What did Manifest Destiny mean?

• Divine Providence would always support the army.

• The Transcontinental Railroad was meant to be built.

• The United States would stretch from coast to coast.

• A national road system was necessary for the country.

Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railroad Act.

• true

• false

What were some of the difficulties faced by workers in the prairie?

• They had to build tall bridges.

• They did not have enough tools.

• They were attacked by American Indians.

• They had to blast through granite mountains.

The Transcontinental Railroad avoided most American Indian territories.

• true

• false

The ________________ helped bring about the destruction of _______________ herds on the plains.

• Civil War, horses

• immigrants, goat

• railroad, buffalo

• telegraph, sheep

Which group did NOT participate in the building of the Transcontinental Railroad?

• white workers

• American Indians

• African Americans

• Chinese Immigrants

Who did the Central Pacific railway company turn to when they needed good work done quickly?

• Irish workers

• tunneling experts

• explosive experts

• Chinese workers