The first transcontinental railroad was built crossing the western half of america and it was pieced together between 1863 and 1869. Transcontinental railroad information, timeline, interactive, primary source docs, etc. This book is filled with photographs, interesting facts, discussion questions, and more, to effectively engage young learners in such a significant retelling of events. They could now travel faster, safer, and cheaper by train. In 1845, asa whitney presented to congress a plan for the federal government to. The impact of the transcontinental railroad on native. It connected the east and west coast of the united states paving the way for white settlers at the expense of. First transcontinental railroad and stanford forever. Alternatively, a traveler could hazard a six week sea voyage around cape horn, or sail to.
Before the advent of the transcontinental railroad, a journey across the continent to the western states meant a dangerous six month trek over rivers, deserts, and mountains. Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad by sleeping in a train car these authentic cabooses, mail cars and train cars from u. Sometimes the text was a bit wooden and a bit of in depth analysis was lacking, but overall, it was an interesting read. And even though they made major contributions to the construction of the transcontinental railroad, these 15,000 to 20,000 chinese immigrants have been largely ignored by history. Nonetheless, central pacific railroad was desperate, says gordon chang, stanford professor of american history and author of the book. The transcontinental railroad weber county library. Nothing like it in the world is a narrative history of the planning and construction of the pacific railroad during the 1860s which.
On the one hand, it was a triumph of engineering skills over thousands of miles of rough terrain, but on the other hand, it drained the natural resources in. The first transcontinental railroad in north america was built in the 1860s, linking the well developed railway network of the east coast with rapidly growing california. I dont know if this is the correct forum but i will try it anyway. Ambrose gathers the story as presented by many secondary sources and peppers it with great quotes and biographical detail. The iron road this is the earlier and lesser of two pbs american experience films on the transcontinental railroad. This is an actual book, not the kindle edition, which is the only version that shows up in goodreads. Looking for a good book about the transcontinental railroad. An age appropriate grades 35 introduction to curriculumrelevant subjects and a robust resource section that encourages independent study is included. Your new book reinterprets the building of the railroad as a colonial project. The outposts of the american west were connected to the population centers back east. The design and illustrations are wonderful, making this title a pleasure to read. The transcontinental railroad the transcontinental railroad.
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. Ambrose was a renowned historian and acclaimed author of more than thirty books. No longer would people travel in long wagon trains that took months to reach california. The transcontinental railroad by john perritano, paperback.
The book begins with engineer theodore judahs dream of a transcontinental railroad and concludes with the longterm effects of americas railroad expansion. May 10, 2019 and even though they made major contributions to the construction of the transcontinental railroad, these 15,000 to 20,000 chinese immigrants have been largely ignored by history. Building the transcontinental railroad, the moonshot of. Informational nonfiction, 1,565 words, level x grade 5, lexile 990l multilevel book also available in levels z1 and z2 how could anyone build something as big and expensive as a railroad across the immense, rugged american west. First transcontinental railroad and stanford forever linked. The transcontinental railroad audiobook by charles river. Covers the construction of the transcontinental railroad, completed in 1869. Chock full of interesting, accessible information, this book is a terrific look at the early days of the transcontinental railroad. Obviously, not only did more mileage mean more territory but also greater revenue. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Some of us as children rode the train across the lucien cutoff to california. Building the first transcontinental railroad bains bookthe product of a 14year effortis the authoritative account and will probably remain so for a long time.
The men who built the transcontinental railroad 1863 1869. Join nationallyrecognized author and storyteller sam payne and utah music icon clive romney and friends on a lively train to discovery. The transcontinental railroad goodreads share book. List of books and articles about transcontinental railroad. How could anyone build something as big and expensive as a railroad across the immense, rugged american west. Iron rails, iron men, and the race to link the nation. 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 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. When the first transcontinental railroad was completed in the spring of 1869, it was celebrated as a marvel of engineering and an invaluable new link between people and places. John perritano describes the development of a railway system uniting the united states, from its design and planning, through the problems that plagued its construction, to its completion in 1869 and its subsequent. January 1863 central pacific railroad breaks ground on its portion of the railroad at sacramento, california. May 07, 2019 celebrate the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad by sleeping in a train car these authentic cabooses, mail cars and train cars from u. May 8, 2019 first transcontinental railroad and stanford forever linked.
Weber county is a collection of railroad towns and people whose lives have been affected by the railroad. On the one hand, it was a triumph of engineering skills over thousands of miles of rough terrain, but on the other hand, it drained the natural resources in those places nearly dry. Apr 15, 2016 this short is about the race to build the worlds first transcontinental railroad. May 06, 2019 building the transcontinental railroad. Many civil war veterans worked on the transcontinental railroad after the war. The pacific railway a brief history of building the transcontinental railroad. How trains railroaded the american economy in his new book, railroaded, historian richard white examines the impact transcontinental train corporations had on business and politics at the end of. The transcontinental railroad turning points in american. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 18631869 paperback november 6, 2001.
Marking the 150th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad, the u. Building the transcontinental railroad, the moonshot of the. The transcontinental railroad greatly boosted americas economy and contributed to the westward expansion. Presented in a comic book format, this mini book will engage readers at all levels and encourage them to delve more deeply into the mass movement west and how it shaped the country. Transcontinental railroads in and near the united states by 1887. With engaging pictures and text, this nonfiction narrative brings this part of history to life, including the key events and key players involved. This book tells the story of swaggering men with big plans, of an america emerging from the civil war and reaching its manifest destiny. The transcontinental railroad, laid across the united states during the 1860s, remains the very epitome of contradiction. Watch the transcontinental railroad american experience. Buy echoes of hammers and spikes fullcolor 9 x 12 book and 20song album celebrate americas greatest technological achievement of building the transcontinental railroad. This year, we have chosen the transcontinental railroad as our topic. The line, from the bbc documentary series seven wonders of the industrial world. A transcontinental railroad or transcontinental railway is a contiguous network railroad trackage that crosses a continental land mass with terminals at different oceans or continental borders. The transcontinental railroad was created during the industrial revolution and it changed how people were able to communicate, transport goods, and travel across the nation.
The transcontinental railroad addresses the laborious and often dangerous process of connecting the united states from east to west. Before the railroad, the fastest way to migrate to the west was by wagon, a journey fraught with danger over plains, deserts, mountains and rivers. Young learners will be introduced to an important stage in history when they read building the transcontinental railroad. Apr 27, 2016 the line, from the bbc documentary series seven wonders of the industrial world. This book provides the keys to discovering the important people, places and events that helped shape the western united states. Stanford historians book shines light on chinese workers in california they helped complete the american dream of conquering the west. The epic story of the chinese who built the transcontinental railroad the gold rush had brought thousands from china to california. 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.
Central pacific railroad photographic history museum virtual bookstore. Transcontinental railroad printable minibooks, lesson plans and ideas. 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. The transcontinental railroad 1869 printable minibooks. Building the transcontinental railroad during the 1860s was one of the great achievements of the era. In 1862, president lincoln signed the pacific railway actand the race to complete the transcontinental railroad was on. History westward expansion the first transcontinental railroad stretched from the east coast of the united states to the west coast. After the civil war, the building of the transcontinental railroad was the nineteenth centurys most transformative event.
If you want the whole story, its here, 700 wonderfully written and meticulously researched pages. In graphic novel format, tells the story of how the transcontinental railroad was built during the 1800s. This short is about the race to build the worlds first transcontinental railroad. Although ambrose was a retired university history professor, the book was written as a. Historic photographs support detailed and engaging text. The men who imagined the transcontinental railroad were impassioned profiteers, an unlikely, often ruthless band, guilty of both financial doubledealing and ferocious ingenuity. Colonialism and imperialism are two very distinct processes. Subtitled incorrectly the men who built the transcontinental railroad 1863 1869, i knew i was taking a risk reading an ambrose book, but the subject was. This lesson plan provides great book such as the transcontinental railroad and you wouldnt want to work on a railroad, which would to use in ela during the railroad lesson. Transcontinental railroad construction, competition. Jun 03, 2019 your new book reinterprets the building of the railroad as a colonial project. Transcontinental railroad this pbs take on the transcontinental railroad brings ample detail and great archival material, along with the commentary of some of our best railroad historians.
The firstdayofissue event for the transcontinental railroad forever stamp is free and open to the public. Presented in a comicbook format, this minibook will engage readers at all levels and encourage them to delve more deeply into the mass movement west and how it shaped the country. Congress authorized the first transcontinental railroad during the civil war, and on may 10, 1869, the union pacific and the central pacific. List of books and articles about transcontinental railroad online. The building of the transcontinental railroad book information.
Such networks can be via the tracks of either a single railroad or over those owned or. Can anyone recommend an accurate book about the transcontinental railroad. Mark twain chronicled his experiences living and working out west in his book roughing it, published in 1872. The coming of the transcontinental railroad tcrr, the first communication revolution in the united states. It provides some good information on the building of the transcontinental railroad. May 08, 2019 may 8, 2019 first transcontinental railroad and stanford forever linked. Jun 16, 2019 he is author of a newlyreleased book, ghosts of gold mountain. However, the book appears to have been cobbled together as fast as the editors could do so. Among his new york times bestsellers are nothing like it in the. It was 1,776 miles long and served for the atlantic and pacific coasts of the united states to be connected by rail for the first time in history. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 18631869 ambrose, stephen e. One hundred and fifty years ago on may 10, 1869, university founder leland stanford drove the last spike that marked the. Transcontinental railroad books in print and videotapes. Your book also challenges readers to consider the transcontinental railroad as a form of continental imperialism.
Grade 46 the linking of east and west through the railway is the theme of millers wellresearched and readable book, which offers a wealth of information on this important event. 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. What changes did the transcontinental railroad bring to the. It connected the east and west coast of the united states. I want one that tells the story accurately from beginning of the railroad to the completion. Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental. Usps celebrates 150th anniversary of the transcontinental.
The transcontinental railroad in childrens books central. Jul 11, 2011 how trains railroaded the american economy in his new book, railroaded, historian richard white examines the impact transcontinental train corporations had on business and politics at the end of. He is author of a newlyreleased book, ghosts of gold mountain. 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. Postal service will commemorate this 19th century marvel with a magnificent set of forever stamps.