First transcontinental railroad and stanford forever linked. No longer would people travel in long wagon trains that took months to reach california. In 1862, president lincoln signed the pacific railway actand the race to complete the transcontinental railroad was on. An interesting book about the big four in california and the impact they had on the building of the transcontinental railroad and on the development of california as a state. Apr 27, 2016 the line, from the bbc documentary series seven wonders of the industrial world. 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. 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.
Obviously, not only did more mileage mean more territory but also greater revenue. The transcontinental railroad goodreads share book. The transcontinental railroad, laid across the united states during the 1860s, remains the very epitome of contradiction. 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. Building the first transcontinental railroad bains bookthe product of a 14year effortis the authoritative account and will probably remain so for a long time. Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
The iron road this is the earlier and lesser of two pbs american experience films on the transcontinental railroad. I dont know if this is the correct forum but i will try it anyway. 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. Postal service will commemorate this 19th century marvel with a magnificent set of forever stamps. 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. This book tells the story of swaggering men with big plans, of an america emerging from the civil war and reaching its manifest destiny. 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. The firstdayofissue event for the transcontinental railroad forever stamp is free and open to the public. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 1863 1869.
Your new book reinterprets the building of the railroad as a colonial project. Sometimes the text was a bit wooden and a bit of in depth analysis was lacking, but overall, it was an interesting read. The men who imagined the transcontinental railroad were impassioned profiteers, an unlikely, often ruthless band, guilty of both financial doubledealing and ferocious ingenuity. One hundred and fifty years ago on may 10, 1869, university founder leland stanford drove the last spike that marked the. Historic photographs support detailed and engaging text. The outposts of the american west were connected to the population centers back east. Can anyone recommend an accurate book about the transcontinental railroad. How could anyone build something as big and expensive as a railroad across the immense, rugged american west.
Nonetheless, central pacific railroad was desperate, says gordon chang, stanford professor of american history and author of the book. Building the transcontinental railroad, the moonshot of. After the civil war, the building of the transcontinental railroad was the nineteenth centurys most transformative event. The completion was marked by the golden spike ceremony, held on may 10, 1869, when rail lines built by the central pacific from the west and the union pacific from the east were joined at promontory summit in utah. The transcontinental railroad the transcontinental railroad.
In 1845, asa whitney presented to congress a plan for the federal government to. 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. 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. It connected the east and west coast of the united states. 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. The epic story of the chinese who built the transcontinental railroad the gold rush had brought thousands from china to california. The impact of the transcontinental railroad on native. If you want the whole story, its here, 700 wonderfully written and meticulously researched pages. 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.
Alternatively, a traveler could hazard a six week sea voyage around cape horn, or sail to. Your book also challenges readers to consider the transcontinental railroad as a form of continental imperialism. The design and illustrations are wonderful, making this title a pleasure to read. The transcontinental railroad in childrens books central. 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. Buy echoes of hammers and spikes fullcolor 9 x 12 book and 20song album celebrate americas greatest technological achievement of building the transcontinental railroad. The transcontinental railroad weber county library. They could now travel faster, safer, and cheaper by train. The first transcontinental railroad was built crossing the western half of america and it was pieced together between 1863 and 1869. Among his new york times bestsellers are nothing like it in the. Young learners will be introduced to an important stage in history when they read building the transcontinental railroad. Weber county is a collection of railroad towns and people whose lives have been affected by the railroad. Marking the 150th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad, the u.
He is author of a newlyreleased book, ghosts of gold mountain. Building the transcontinental railroad, the moonshot of the. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. 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. Building the transcontinental railroad during the 1860s was one of the great achievements of the era. History westward expansion the first transcontinental railroad stretched from the east coast of the united states to the west coast. The transcontinental railroad audiobook by charles river. 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. Congress authorized the first transcontinental railroad during the civil war, and on may 10, 1869, the union pacific and the central pacific. I want one that tells the story accurately from beginning of the railroad to the completion. 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 addresses the laborious and often dangerous process of connecting the united states from east to west. Ambrose was a renowned historian and acclaimed author of more than thirty books. May 08, 2019 may 8, 2019 first transcontinental railroad and stanford forever linked. Transcontinental railroad books in print and videotapes. Such networks can be via the tracks of either a single railroad or over those owned or. Transcontinental railroad and the american west youtube. First transcontinental railroad and stanford forever. Central pacific railroad photographic history museum virtual bookstore. 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. Although ambrose was a retired university history professor, the book was written as 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. Transcontinental railroad information, timeline, interactive, primary source docs, etc. However, the book appears to have been cobbled together as fast as the editors could do so. The coming of the transcontinental railroad tcrr, the first communication revolution in the united states. This book provides the keys to discovering the important people, places and events that helped shape the western united states. Colonialism and imperialism are two very distinct processes. Stanford historians book shines light on chinese workers in california they helped complete the american dream of conquering the west. The book begins with engineer theodore judahs dream of a transcontinental railroad and concludes with the longterm effects of americas railroad expansion. Apr 15, 2016 this short is about the race to build the worlds first transcontinental railroad. It provides some good information on the building of the transcontinental railroad. Transcontinental railroad printable minibooks, lesson plans and ideas. Mark twain chronicled his experiences living and working out west in his book roughing it, published in 1872.
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. 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. Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental. List of books and articles about transcontinental railroad online. May 8, 2019 first transcontinental railroad and stanford forever linked. Transcontinental railroad construction, competition. 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. Many civil war veterans worked on the transcontinental railroad after the war. In graphic novel format, tells the story of how the transcontinental railroad was built during the 1800s. The building of the transcontinental railroad book information.
This short is about the race to build the worlds first transcontinental railroad. The pacific railway a brief history of building the transcontinental railroad. Nothing like it in the world is a narrative history of the planning and construction of the pacific railroad during the 1860s which. The line, from the bbc documentary series seven wonders of the industrial world.
January 1863 central pacific railroad breaks ground on its portion of the railroad at sacramento, california. The transcontinental railroad by john perritano, paperback. 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 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. 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. 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. Looking for a good book about the transcontinental railroad. What changes did the transcontinental railroad bring to the.
Some of us as children rode the train across the lucien cutoff to california. Watch the transcontinental railroad american experience. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 18631869. Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad by sleeping in a train car these authentic cabooses, mail cars and train cars from u. The transcontinental railroad greatly boosted americas economy and contributed to the westward expansion. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 18631869 ambrose, stephen e. It connected the east and west coast of the united states paving the way for white settlers at the expense of. The men who built the transcontinental railroad 18631869 paperback november 6, 2001. Join nationallyrecognized author and storyteller sam payne and utah music icon clive romney and friends on a lively train to discovery. Usps celebrates 150th anniversary of the transcontinental. List of books and articles about transcontinental railroad. Covers the construction of the transcontinental railroad, completed in 1869. 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.
Chock full of interesting, accessible information, this book is a terrific look at the early days of the transcontinental railroad. May 06, 2019 building the transcontinental railroad. Jun 16, 2019 he is author of a newlyreleased book, ghosts of gold mountain. 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. Ambrose gathers the story as presented by many secondary sources and peppers it with great quotes and biographical detail.
The transcontinental railroad turning points in american. 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. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. This is an actual book, not the kindle edition, which is the only version that shows up in goodreads. 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.
An age appropriate grades 35 introduction to curriculumrelevant subjects and a robust resource section that encourages independent study is included. 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. 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. Transcontinental railroads in and near the united states by 1887. Iron rails, iron men, and the race to link the nation. Jun 03, 2019 your new book reinterprets the building of the railroad as a colonial project.
282 1256 577 1489 170 734 996 392 1651 787 1399 1094 803 863 907 674 63 1388 233 1345 853 850 350 1686 673 120 251 1290 483 599 95 1073 506 990 191 1046 984 276 678 751 1076 1240