Multiple Choice Questions

What legislation chartered the Union Pacific Railroad and provided land and loans?

• Interstate Commerce Act

• Pacific Railway Act of 1862

• Granger Laws

• Wabash Act

What was the primary scandal involving fraudulent construction contracts and inflated costs?

• Pullman Strike

• Wabash Case

• Hepburn Fraud

• Crédit Mobilier

What year did the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads meet at Promontory Summit?

• 1862

• 1877

• 1869

• 1887

What technological innovation tripled freight capacity in the late 19th century?

• Refrigerated railcars

• More powerful locomotives and efficient freight cars

• Telegraph integration

• Standardized time zones

What percentage of U.S. gross capital formation did railroads account for in the 1870s?

• 10%

• 20%

• 30%

• 40%

What percentage of the workforce was employed by the railroad industry?

• A. 10%

• B. 20%

• C. 30%

• D. 5%

Railroads were often built ahead of demand, leading to anticipatory settlement.

• True

• False

The Central Pacific Railroad used mostly ex-soldiers to build the track.

• True

• False

The Southeast and Southwest lagged in railroad construction due to sparse population and post-war poverty.

• True

• False

Construction of railroads was largely financed by private capital without government aid.

• True

• False