Transcontinental Railroad and Its Impact Quiz

What is a transcontinental railroad?

• A railroad that only runs within one state

• A railroad line linking the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the US

• A railroad that only transports coal

• A railroad that circles a city

Who was Cornelius Vanderbilt?

• A famous railroad engineer

• A businessman who bought and linked small railroads into a larger network

• The president of the United States

• A railroad worker

What was one major impact of the transcontinental railroad?

• It made the US less accessible

• It ended the “frontier”

• It decreased trade between cities

• It slowed down travel

Why was the completion of the transcontinental railroad important for the US?

• It made the US more connected and accessible

• It caused more wars

• It reduced the population

• It stopped all trade

Approximately how many Chinese immigrants died building the railroads between 1863 and 1869?

• 100

• 500

• 1,000

• 5,000

What problem did inconsistent railroad schedules cause?

• Increased train speeds

• Time differences between cities

• Fewer passengers

• More comfortable travel

How did railroads help industries like iron, steel, coal, and lumber?

• By making these products less important

• By transporting these products in large quantities and quickly

• By reducing the need for these materials

• By making them more expensive

What was one effect of railroads connecting rural and urban areas?

• Rural areas became less populated

• These areas grew as trade increased

• Urban areas disappeared

• Railroads were abandoned

How did the creation of time zones help the railroad industry?

• It made travel more confusing

• It standardized schedules and reduced confusion

• It increased accidents

• It made trains slower

What did the owners of Crédit Mobilier do to increase their profits?

• Charged 2–3 times more than the actual cost

• Lowered prices for farmers

• Built fewer railroad tracks

• Paid higher wages to workers