The TRANSCONTINENTAL Railroad UNITING the United States

The TRANSCONTINENTAL Railroad UNITING the United States

J.M. Syken

Course Outline

In this course, we will examine the background and history for the creation of the first “Transcontinental Railroad” (a.k.a. “Pacific Railway”) on the North American continent. This will include a review of early Nineteenth Century expeditions (i.e. Lewis & Clark) and settlement of the western half of the continent, development of railroads in the eastern United States, effects of the Mexican Cession (at the conclusion of the Mexican-American War, in 1848), discovery of gold in California (1849) and the admission of California to the Union (1850). This review will include the social, economic, commercial and strategic need/s for a rail connection between the Atlantic and Pacific coast/s. The debate in the 1850s over slavery and its cause/effect on the creation of the transcontinental RR will also be discussed.

Furthermore, we will examine in both depth and detail the legislation enabling the work to begin and the formation/operation of the two companies which would construct and operate the roads upon completion: the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific Railroad/s. This will include the surveying, route selection, grading, track laying, trestling, bridging, tunneling, logistics, manpower, financing, termini, objectives, scandals, rivalries, joining etc. involved in constructing the roads through flats, valleys, plateaus, mountains and/or desert terrain. We will also discuss the problems encountered with Native Americans and the creation of temporary and/or permanent towns along the right-of-way of both roads and their after-effects. Lastly, we will discuss the expansion, improvement, consolidation and interfacing of the two roads – the Union Pacific RR in particular, in the years since completion of the transcontinental RR in 1869 and its legacy.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

Understand/appreciate the settlement of the North American continent and the role of “Manifest Destiny” in the western expansion;
Understand/appreciate the impact of the Lewis & Clark expedition for the development of an “Overland Route” to the Pacific coast;
Understand/appreciate the various schemes/routes proposed for a “Transcontinental Steam Railroad” in the 1820s/30s/40s;
Understand/appreciate the impact of the American victory in the Mexican-American War and the resulting treaty (1848) on the territorial expansion (a.k.a. “Mexican Cession”) of the United States;
Understand/appreciate the growth in population of California as a result of the 1849 Gold Rush, statehood (1850) and the demand/need for easier/faster communication with the east;
Understand/appreciate the delays caused by the slavery issue/debate during the 1850s concerning the selection of a route and competing northern and southern interests;
Understand/appreciate how the secession of the southern states (in April 1861) allowed for the passing of the “Pacific Railway Act of 1862”;
Understand/appreciate the creation of the two rival companies, their leadership, financing, route selection etc.;
Understand/appreciate the selection of Sacramento, CA as the western terminus and Omaha, NE as the eastern terminus;
Understand/appreciate the methods, materials and systems used to construct the roads over varying terrain;
Understand/appreciate the hardships and difficulties encountered by terrain, weather, hostile natives and lawlessness;
Understand/appreciate the choice of Promontory Summit as the junction of the two roads;
Understand/appreciate the festivities of the “Golden Spike” ceremony (May 10th 1969) and the commencement of operations in its aftermath;
Understand/appreciate the mergers, acquisitions, expansion, improvements etc. experienced by both roads in the intervening years, and
Understand/appreciate the legacy of the transcontinental RR as a literal and symbolic unification of east with west.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for architects, engineers and other design/construction professionals.

Benefit to Attendees

The attendee/s will gain an intimate knowledge and insight into the creation of one of the 19th Century’s greatest accomplishments – the Transcontinental Railroad.

Course Introduction

This course includes an in-depth PowerPoint presentation and the viewing of a documentary film.

Course Content

In this course, you are required to view/study the following slideshow and the materials contained in the web pages:

The TRANSCONTINENTAL Railroad UNITING the United States (printable handout in PDF, 29 MB, see Note A below for downloading instruction)

The TRANSCONTINENTAL Railroad UNITING the United States (non-printable slideshow for screen-viewing only, 113 MB, see Note A below for downloading instruction)

Archival/Documentary Film:

Title: The Transcontinental Railroad – American Experience
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3DJSd8nEVM
Duration: 1:47:02

Note A: Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right-clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader from your computer.

Course Summary

“Manifest Destiny not a boast meant we’d expand from coast-to-coast”

In this simple children’s rhyme lay the dream of Thomas Jefferson: a nation founded on democratic principles that would extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean/s. It was America’s “Manifest Destiny” to conquer the continent, but it wouldn’t be quick nor would it be easy. With a growing railroad network, it appears the idea of a “Transcontinental Steam Railroad” came to several people simultaneously in the middle of the Nineteenth Century. The Lewis & Clark Expedition (1803-1806) had proven the viability of an overland route across the continent, but the obstacles to a railroad from the Great Plains to the Pacific were daunting. Besides the physical obstacles there was the problem of the Plains Indians, whose way of life would be lost forever with the coming of the “Iron Horse.” The Gold Rush of 1849 and the admission of California into the Union (in 1850) made a means of quick, reliable communication with the east a strategic and economic necessity. By 1862, the legislation was in place and the stage set for the Union Pacific to build west, from Omaha, and the Central Pacific to build east, from Sacramento. They would meet on a lonely plateau in Utah Territory named Promontory Summit in May of 1869. Begun while the nation was tearing itself apart in a bloody Civil War, it would be completed in the post-Civil War era of reconciliation. With its completion, the “United” in United States was given new meaning.

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Transcontinental_Railroad

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/introduction/tcrr-intro/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3OM_UnnCNM&index=1&list=PLA54D68B33284000A
(Transcontinental Railroad – BBC – Five Parts - +/- 48:00)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr7q4GPTG4M
(Film: Storm of the Century - The Blizzard of 1949 - 56:45)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4BWsYbJROQ
(Film: Last of the Giants - Union Pacific RR - 23:56)

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.