Historic photographs support detailed and engaging text. Transcontinental railroad construction, competition. List of books and articles about transcontinental railroad. John debo galloway will ever be rated as one of the great engineers who had an important part in the development of western america. The building of the transcontinental railroad graphic. In 1862, the pacific railroad act chartered the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies, tasking them with building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to west. Beginning in 1842 with a visionarys dream to span the continent with twin bands of iron, empire express captures three dramatic decades in which the united states effectively doubled in size, fought three wars, and began to discover a new national identity. Can anyone recommend an accurate book about the transcontinental railroad.
At first railroad companies were reluctant to hire chinese workers, but the immigrants soon proved to be vital. However, the book appears to have been cobbled together as fast as the editors could do so. This video was created by jenny jarvis and nikki mecham. This book is filled with photographs, interesting facts, discussion questions, and more, to effectively engage young learners in such a significant retelling of events.
The transcontinental railroad goodreads share book. Building the first transcontinental railroad is a book written by david haward bain, published in 2000. The discovery of gold in california in 1848 made the. After the civil war, the building of the transcontinental railroad was the nineteenth centurys most transformative event.
First transcontinental railroad is completed history. Aug 29, 2000 subtitled incorrectly the men who built the transcontinental railroad 18631869, i knew i was taking a risk reading an ambrose book, but the subject was compelling to me. I like trains, i like history, particularly 19th century american history, so i figured i would give this a try. The building of the transcontinental railroad is a relatively short chapter in the settling of the west, but. The story of the first transcontinental railroad by william.
Monica halpern is a childrens book writer who has penned several national geographic science chapters. You live in a united states on the move in the 1860s. Students will have the opportunity to practice the skills of identifying main ideas and details and summarizing to understand the text. Books online relating to the first transcontinental railroad search for online books available to actually see on the internet click title to view pages in a book or find other books on the same subject. Hear that lonesome whistle blow share book recommendations. They could now travel faster, safer, and cheaper by train. Includes information on building bridges, tunnels, and daily life for the chinese laborers and other men laying track. A transcontinental railroad in the united states is any continuous rail line connecting a location on the u. The story of the first transcontinental railroad by. I dont know if this is the correct forum but i will try it anyway.
Many people died while building the transcontinental railroad. Young learners will be introduced to an important stage in history when they read building the transcontinental railroad. Central pacific railroad construction in the 1860s. In 1845, asa whitney presented to congress a plan for the federal government to subsidize the building of a railroad from the mississippi river to the pacific. Native americans got pushed out by the americans who were moving west, and they lost their land. The desire of constructing a transcontinental railroad originated in the 1850s. Russell had been the official photographer of the u. Military railroad during the civil war, and in 1868, he set out to document the union pacifics journey to. It talks about the transcontinental railroad from the perspective of a. It is a digital story that was created mainly for the fourth grade. Describes the building of the transcontinental railroad across the united states. Dec 19, 2019 the first transcontinental railroad is officially completed, as the union pacific and central pacific lines join some 1,700 miles of track connecting to the eastern networks.
The building of the first transcontinental railroad landmark. If you want a comprehensive book on the building of the railroad, this is the. African americans and the great migration, 19151930. But what the heck, why let a few geographical facts stand in the way of a good story. Looking for a good book about the transcontinental railroad. Hundreds died from explosions, landslides, accidents and disease. Representatives of both railroads take turns driving the final golden spike into the ground during a ceremony at promontory summit in the utah territory. A smaller number of observers also recognized that the transcontinental railroad linked not only people and places but also moments in history. The government gives two railroad companies the central pacific and union pacific the job of building the first transcontinental railroad. The men that built the transcontinental railroad 18631869 new edition by ambrose, stephen e. Apr 01, 1977 from the author of the bestselling bury my heart at wounded knee, dee browns classic account of the building of the transcontinental railroad. The story of the first transcontinental railroad by william francis bailey free ebook project gutenberg.
Building the transcontinental railroad library of congress. Building the transcontinental railroad history of america. It is the story of the men who built the transcontinental railroadthe investors who. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to. Building the transcontinental railroad getty images. Stanford historian s book shines light on chinese workers in california stanford using only picks and shovels, wheelbarrows, carts and horses, thousands of. This book tells the story of swaggering men with big plans, of an america emerging from the civil war and reaching its manifest destiny. You live in a united states on the move in the 1860. David bains meticulously researched and highly detailed empire express is the best modern history of the first transcontinental railroad highly recommended. I want one that tells the story accurately from beginning of the railroad to the completion.
I think its perfect for any classroom that is studying the transcontinental railroad as well as for readers who enjoy railroad history. Transcontinental railroad fact sheet prior to the opening of the transcontinental railroad, it took four to six months to travel 2000 miles from the missouri river to california by wagon. The first transcontinental railroad known originally as the pacific railroad and later as the overland route was a 1,912mile 3,077 km continuous railroad line constructed between 1863 and 1869 that connected the existing eastern u. In the following excerpt from chapter 3 of his book, samuel bowles, who had traveled on the union pacific railroad, describes the. Railroad track had to be laid over 2,000 miles of rugged terrain, including mountains of solid granite. Pacific coast with one or more of the railroads of the nations eastern trunk line rail systems operating between the missouri or mississippi rivers and the u. The story of the building of a railroad connecting the atlantic and pacific coasts of north america. A recital of the list of important engineering projects with which he was associated through more than half a century and the many honors bestowed upon him may not be so interesting to the readers of the first transcontinental railroad as is a word as to his.
The building of the first transcontinental railroad landmark books, 9. Books will be available for purchase and a book signing. Beginning in 1842 with a visionarys dream to span the continent with twin bands of iron, empire express captures three dramatic decades in which the united states effectively doubled in size, fought three wars, and began to discover a new national. In february 1854 the first railroad from the east reached the mississippi. This is an actual book, not the kindle edition, which is the only version that shows up in goodreads. On may 10, 1869, the golden spike linked the central pacific railroad with the union pacific railroad at promontory point, utah. Stereoviews, engravings, maps, and documents are treasures of western americana that illustrate the history of the first transcontinental railroad, built from sacramento, california over the sierra nevada mountains, the to end of track at the golden spike ceremony at promontory, utah where the rails were joined on may 10, 1869 with the union. Once this important and highly essential railroad was completed, means of transportation were bettered and the transcontinental railroad was put to much use, proving to be a beneficial and essential part of life for the u.
The forgotten history of the chinese who helped build americas. Building the transcontinental railroad by linda thompson. It provides some good information on the building of the transcontinental railroad. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to west. The building of the transcontinental line across the vast mountains, plains, and deserts of the west was, undoubtedly, a spectacle to behold, and this is the book that puts you there. The construction of the railroad to the pacific represented, if not a turning point in the countrys history, at least an unmistakable sign that major changes were underway. Over the next seven years, the two companies would race toward each other from sacramento. The building of the transcontinental railroad graphic history. They died either from harsh weather or from lighting the blasting powder and dying from the explosions. At promontory, utah, california governor leland stanford pounds in a ceremonial golden spike that completes the. History westward expansion the first transcontinental railroad stretched from the east coast of the united states to the west coast. January 1863 central pacific railroad breaks ground on its portion of the railroad at sacramento, california.
Building the transcontinental railroad lexile find a book. The transcontinental railroad addresses the laborious and often dangerous process of connecting the united states from east to west. The building of the first transcontinental railroad landmark books, 9 adele nathan, edward a. Hook your students take part in an important historical event that gave americans a way to travel and move goods from the east to the west faster than ever.
First transcontinental railroad photographic history museum. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. Sep 14, 2007 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The construction of a transcontinental railroad was one of the united states greatest technological achievements. They toiled through backbreaking labor during both frigid winters and blazing summers. Central pacific railroad photographic history museum. The dream of a railroad across america had at last come true. Culminating in the driving of the golden spike in the utah desert in 1869, which touched off a frenzy of celebration, the narrative ends in 1873 in washington under the capitol rotunda, with the crushing fall of a popular politician and the exposure of a powerful, hidden railroad lobby a scandal, which, for half a year, dominated the press and the countrys imagination. No longer would people travel in long wagon trains that took months to reach california. The building of the transcontinental railroad graphic history olson, nathan, barnett iii, charles, dominquez, richard on. The union pacific railroad, stretching from chicago, illinois, to promontory point, utah, was built one track at a time until eventually it covered nearly 1500 miles. All the books provide information on the impact of the event andor discuss its place in our history such as the reforms that resulted from the triangle shirtwaist fire and the eventual obsolescence of the steam engine and the replacement of the transcontinental railroad with other means of transport.
Congress began considering how best to support the building of a transcontinental line in the late 1840s. In graphic novel format, tells the story of how the transcontinental railroad was built during the 1800s. It is a good laymans guide to the building of the transcontinental railroad, which in fact was not a transcontinental railroad. Transcontinental railroad completed, unifying united. Abraham lincoln 18091865 was the 16th president of the united states and is remembered as the savior of the union and the great emancipator of the slaves but in this story, lincoln also figures as an important and very wellplaced friend of the transcontinental railroad. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. This book is a quick read but provides a great deal of insight about an important historical period in america. Cprr related books online at the university of michigan. This railroad will unite the country and allow people to travel west to pursue new lives and opportunities. Transcontinental railroad the transcontinental railroad.
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