The Expansion and Impact of Railroads in Post-Civil War America

What role did the government play in the expansion of railroads after the Civil War?

The government provided liberal loans and land grants to favored railroad companies to encourage expansion.

How many miles of railroad tracks existed when Lincoln was assassinated, and how many were there by 1900?

There were 35,000 miles of tracks when Lincoln was assassinated, and 192,556 miles by 1900.

Where did much of the new railroad trackage go after the Civil War?

Much of the new trackage went west of the Mississippi.

What were the risks associated with building transcontinental railroads?

Building transcontinental railroads was costly and risky, especially in thinly populated areas.

What incentives did Congress provide to railroad companies for building across the continent?

Congress provided liberal loans and 155,504,994 acres of land, along with $49 million from western states.

What was the purpose of the land grants given to railroad companies?

The land grants were intended to address military and postal needs and promote national unity and economic growth.

What was the pattern in which railroads were allowed to choose land grants?

Railroads were allowed to choose land in an alternate checkered pattern within broad belts.

What was the impact of railroads on frontier towns?

Frontier towns that had railroads built through them thrived, while those without became 'ghost towns'.

How did towns compete for railroads?

Towns fought for railroads, sometimes bribing them, which led to blackmail for higher payments.

What was the argument for building the transcontinental railroad during the Civil War?

The argument was to strengthen the Union by binding the Pacific Coast (California) to the rest of the Union.

What was the role of the Union Pacific Railroad?

The Union Pacific Railroad was commissioned by Congress to build west from Omaha, Nebraska.

What land incentives were given to construction companies for building railroads?

For each square mile of track, construction companies were given 20 square miles of land in alternating 640-acre sections.

What federal loans were provided to railroad builders?

Builders received federal loans ranging from $16,000 on flat prairie to $48,000 on mountainous terrain for every square mile of track.

Who pocketed $73 million from railroad construction, and how much was actually spent?

Crédit Mobilier pocketed $73 million from $50 million worth of quickly constructed railroad.

Who primarily built the Union Pacific Railroad?

Many Irishmen from the Civil War built the railroad.

How many miles of track could a good crew of 5,000 men build in a day?

A good crew of 5,000 men could build 10 miles of track on a good day.

What was the Central Pacific Railroad's route and who financed it?

The Central Pacific Railroad laid rails from California eastward through the Sierra Nevada and was mainly financed by the Big Four.

Who was Leland Stanford, and what was his role in the railroad expansion?

Leland Stanford was an ex-governor of California with useful political connections who helped finance the Central Pacific Railroad.

Who was a notable lobbyist associated with the transcontinental railroad?

Huntington

How many Chinese laborers were primarily involved in building the transcontinental railroad?

10,000 Chinese laborers

What were the characteristics of the laborers who built the railroad?

They were cheap, efficient, and expandable.

What was the biggest barrier faced during the construction of the transcontinental railroad?

The Sierra Nevada

What was a significant challenge related to the Sierra Nevada during construction?

The rock that workers had to chip through.

Where did the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads meet, and in what year?

They met in Ogden, Utah in 1869.

What was the significance of the meeting in Ogden, Utah?

It was a celebration marking the completion of the transcontinental railroad.

What were some benefits of the transcontinental railroad?

It brought America together, helped trade with Asia, and contributed to the growth of the Great West.

What major environmental impact did the transcontinental railroad have?

It nearly drove bisons to extinction.

How did the transcontinental railroad affect the Plain Indians?

It affected them due to their reliance on the bison.

What was the impact of new settlers on Native Americans following the railroad's construction?

New settlers further threatened the Native American populations.

What was unique about the four other transcontinental lines completed by the end of the 19th century?

None of them secured monetary loans from the federal government, but all (except for the Great Northern) received massive land grants.

What was the route of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and when was it completed?

It stretched from Lake Superior to Puget Sound and was completed in 1883.

What was the route of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railroad, and when was it completed?

It ran through Californian deserts and was completed in 1884.

What was the route of the Southern Pacific railroad?

It linked New Orleans to San Francisco.

What was significant about the Great Northern railroad?

It was the last of the five major railroads to be built, completed in 1893.

What were some consequences of over-optimistic railroad building?

Many railroads declared bankruptcy or merged, leading to financial instability.

Which eastern railroad significantly contributed to the success of western railroads?

The New York Central.

Who was Cornelius Vanderbilt and what was his contribution to railroading?

A wealthy steamboat operator who became a major railroad magnate, amassing a fortune of $100 million and contributing $1 million to Vanderbilt University.

What two significant changes helped boom the railroad industry?

The utilization of steel rails and the establishment of a standard gauge of track.

Why were steel rails preferred over iron rails?

Steel rails were more durable, economical, and safer.

What innovation did the Westinghouse air brake bring to the railroad industry?

It enhanced efficiency and safety in train operations.

What were Pullman Palace Cars and when did they begin to carry wealthy passengers?

Luxury train cars that began operation in the 1860s.

How did railroads physically unite the U.S.?

They connected different regions, facilitating movement and commerce.

What role did railroads play in post-Civil War economic growth?

They stimulated growth by opening up the West, transporting raw materials, and creating a national market.

How did railroads impact agriculture in the West?

They transported farmers to their land and brought produce to markets, leading to agricultural expansion.

What was the significance of railroads in terms of immigration?

They advertised land opportunities and sometimes offered free transport to settlers.

What major change did railroads bring to timekeeping?

They created standardized time zones on November 18, 1883.

What was 'stock watering' in the context of railroads?

The practice of inflating a railroad's assets and revenue to sell bonds and stocks at inflated prices.

How did railroad managers respond to the financial pressures from investors?

They charged high rates to pay back investors, often leading to corruption.

What was the 'pooling' agreement among railroaders?

An agreement to divide profits in a specific area while overcharging non-competing lines.

What was the public response to economic injustice related to railroads?

Slow to respond due to beliefs in free enterprise and the American Dream.

What organized group did farmers form to protest against railroads?

The Grange (Patrons of Husbandry).

What was the outcome of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad Company v. Illinois case?

It limited states' rights to regulate interstate commerce, impacting railroad regulation.

What was the impact of railroads on the landscape of the U.S.?

They transformed areas, such as the Louisiana Purchase, and facilitated agricultural development.

How did railroads contribute to the lumber industry in the Midwest?

They enabled transportation of lumber from Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

What was the significance of the phrase 'day of two noons'?

It referred to the confusion caused by the lack of standardized time before time zones were established.

What were some corrupt practices associated with railroad management?

Bribing judges and legislatures, employing lobbyists, and electing their own officials.

How did railroads affect the economic landscape of the U.S.?

They became the nation's biggest business, employing many and receiving significant investments.

What was the role of railroad millionaires in society?

They began to replace the traditional planter aristocracy and gained significant wealth and influence.

What was the ruling of the Illinois Supreme Court regarding interstate commerce?

States had no power to regulate interstate commerce; the federal government had to take charge.

What was the purpose of the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887?

To prohibit rebates and pools, require railroads to publicly publish their rates, prohibit discrimination against shippers, and outlaw charging a short haul more than a longer haul on the same line.

What significant commission was established by the Interstate Commerce Act?

The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) was set up to administer the new legislation.

How did the Interstate Commerce Act benefit railroads?

It was useful to railroads rather than a threat, allowing them to satisfy the public while utilizing loopholes.

What was one of the first large-scale attempts by the federal government to control businesses?

The Interstate Commerce Act aimed to help the general public by regulating railroads.

What impact did railroads have on American manufacturing?

Railroads helped America become the number one manufacturer in the world.

What economic change occurred post-Civil War due to railroads?

There was an increase in liquid capital, leading to a drastic expansion of the millionaire class.

What innovations in transportation were facilitated by railroads?

Railroads brought natural resources to factories and allowed industrialists to sell mass-produced products.

What was the significance of the telephone invented by Alexander Graham Bell?

It turned America into a giant communications network and expanded due to many women being hired as operators.

What was the major invention perfected by Thomas Alva Edison?

The electric light bulb, which significantly shortened the average American's sleep.

What was vertical integration as perfected by Andrew Carnegie?

Controlling every step of industrial production to increase efficiency and decrease competition.

What was the impact of innovations like the cash register and typewriter during this period?

They were part of the technological advancements that transformed business operations.

How many patents were issued between 1860 and 1890?

440,000 patents were issued during that time.

What was one of the major inventions that contributed to urbanization?

The refrigerator car, electric dynamo, and electric railway contributed to urbanization.

What was the role of low-wage European workers in the steel industry?

They worked 12-hour shifts, 7 days a week, contributing significantly to the steel industry.

What was the purpose of the ICC in relation to businesses?

It provided a forum for competing businesses to resolve issues peacefully and avoid rate wars.

What was the effect of cheap transportation on industrialists?

It incentivized industrialists to continuously redefine the 'American System' and innovate.

What was the significance of the phonograph and mimeograph?

They were among the useful inventions that emerged during this period, enhancing communication and business.

Who was the primary inventor behind several key inventions during this time?

Thomas Alva Edison, known for inventions like the electric light bulb and phonograph.

What was the societal impact of Edison's inventions?

They contributed to a significant change in daily life, such as reducing sleep time for Americans.

What did the innovations in transportation and communication lead to in the American economy?

They facilitated mass production and distribution, boosting economic growth and industrialization.

What strategy did Rockefeller heavily use to control the oil market?

Horizontal integration, allying with competitors to monopolize the market.

How did Rockefeller gain control over his competitors?

Through trusts, where a company grants control of another company by owning stock.

What was the significance of the Standard Oil Company in Rockefeller's strategy?

It was used to control other companies through trusts and consolidated small business operations.

What was J.P. Morgan's method for monopolizing the banking industry?

He used interlocking directorates, placing his own banking officers on the boards of newly created companies.

What economic conditions led businesspeople to seek help from J.P. Morgan in the 1870s and 1890s?

They faced losses due to depression and cutthroat competition.

What was the Bessemer Process?

A cheap method of making steel by blowing air on molten iron, discovered by William Kelly.

What was the impact of the U.S. steel production by 1900?

The U.S. was producing as much steel as Britain and Germany combined.

How did Carnegie differ from monopolists in the steel industry?

He eliminated many middlemen and disliked monopolistic trusts, operating a partnership with at most 40 millionaires.

What was Carnegie's annual profit from his steel business?

$40 million a year, with Carnegie himself netting $25 million.

How did J.P. Morgan acquire Carnegie's stake in the steel industry?

Carnegie threatened to invade the steel pipe tubing industry if Morgan didn't buy him out, leading to a $400 million buyout.

What did Carnegie do with his wealth after selling his company?

He donated $350 million to public libraries and professors.

What was the significance of U.S. Steel?

It was created by consolidating Carnegie's company with others and had a market cap of $1.4 billion, making it the first billion-dollar corporation.

What was the first major product derived from petroleum in the booming oil industry?

Kerosene, which was used to light flames.

How did the invention of the lightbulb affect the kerosene market?

Kerosene became less valuable as a light source after the lightbulb was introduced.

What revived the oil industry after the decline of kerosene?

The invention of the automobile, as gas-powered cars became superior to electric and steam-powered cars.

What percentage of oil refineries in the U.S. did Rockefeller control?

95%.

What unethical practices did Rockefeller engage in to maintain his dominance?

He employed spies, extorted secret rebates from railroads, and forced railroads to pay him rebates on competitors' freight bills.

What was the effect of consolidation on production costs compared to price wars?

Consolidation was cheaper than engaging in price wars.

What types of trusts existed besides oil trusts?

Sugar trusts, tobacco trusts, leather trusts, and harvester trusts.

What was the initial use of oil traces before the oil industry boomed?

They were mainly used in medicine and for back-rubs.

What was 'Drake's Folly'?

The first well to pump out oil, referred to as 'black gold'.