Read the Pacific railway act of 1862 and answer the following questions...
Pacific Railway Act 1862
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resources/archives/five/railact.htm
- What is the purpose of this act?
- What is the Union Pacific Railroad Company empowered by this act to do?
- Mark on a map the route that the transcontinental railroad will follow. What will be the most difficult terrain on which to lay track? What other difficulties do you foresee in terms of crews of men living and working in a variety of environments as they lay tracks?
- Why do you think the government is providing for the building of telegraph poles along the length of the railroad?
- The act is giving the railroad the right of way on public lands. How much land on either side of tracks does this include? What does the government promise to do if American Indian tribes claim title to this land?
- In Section 3 the act provides the railroad with more land than what is needed to give it a right of way. Why will this land fronting the railroad tracks be even more valuable than land given to homesteaders at a distance from the railway?
- What method of financing the railway does the bill propose in Section 5?
- Under what terms is the Central Pacific Railroad Company of California authorized to build a railway headed east? Since the bonds will be awarded based on completed mileage of railway track, which company would ultimately be awarded the most money? How does this set up a competition between the two railways?
- The Central Pacific Railroad had to lay track in the mountainous region of the Sierra Nevadas, one of the most difficult endeavors of the entire enterprise. This will obviously take much more time than laying tracks on the flat plains. How does the government plan to compensate the companies for the laying of track over mountainous terrain?
Team Projects That View the Railway from Four Different Perspectives
- Your group will be given a task to complete about the Transcontinental Railroad from one of three perspectives. Follow the directions for your group... you will need to assign a project manager who will direct members of your group in preparing the presentation. The project manager AND myself will help determine your grade. Enjoy and have fun learning about the Transcontinental Railroad!!!!
- Final Instructions For all 3 Teams
Exchange what you have written with another member of your team. Edit each other's work and give suggestions for improvement. Write a final draft of your own work. Meet as a team to choose five words or phrases which best express your team's attitude toward the Transcontinental Railroad (in the roles you played). These words should be written down on large index cards, and decorated with appropriate images. These will later be put up on a class bulletin board display.