The Great Train Days: U.S. Steel, Railroads, and Immigration (1850s-1890s)

What industry had a monopoly in America during the Great Train Days?

Carnegy's Steel Industry

What process made steel cheaper and more flexible in the 1850s?

Bessemer Process

What was the purpose of the Transcontinental Railroad?

To connect East and West

What impact did the Transcontinental Railroad have on the economy?

Stimulated economy by creating stores and companies

Which groups of workers were primarily involved in building the Transcontinental Railroad?

Irish (east) and Chinese (west) workers

What states did the Transcontinental Railroad cross?

California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska

What were the benefits of the railroad expansion?

Stimulated growth of industries and cities, increased westward expansion

What did the creation of standard time zones facilitate?

Unification of the country economically and culturally

How did railroads benefit local economies?

Brought new jobs and more clients for local stores/markets

What was a negative consequence of railroad expansion?

Corruption and higher rates charged to western farmers

What was the Crédit Mobilier Scandal of 1868?

A scandal involving a fake construction company and bribery of Congress members

What problems arose during the era of railroad expansion?

Too many railroads built, over-expansion, bankruptcies, economic struggles

What was the status of America in terms of railroad, steel, and oil production by the late 19th century?

America was the world leader in railroad, steel, and oil production

What years saw significant addition of rail lines to the West?

Between 1870 and 1890

What was the primary demographic of immigrants during the railroad expansion?

Mainly men

What was the role of Chinese laborers during the railroad expansion?

They worked on the transcontinental railroad, agriculture, mining, and industry

Why were Chinese women excluded from immigration during this period?

Due to associations with prostitution