Into The West

1
Into The West

• 1820Major Stephen H Long. Sent to explore the
  land west of the Mississippi termed the region
  the Great American Desert.
• This area was home to many species and cultures
• Omaha, Osage, Comanche, Sioux, Blackfeet,
  Cheyenne, Pawnee, Apache, Navajo.

2
Westward Expansion

• The Transcontinental Railroad begins in earnest
  during the Civil War. Plans established after
  gold is discovered in California.
• Gadsen Purchase makes such a rail possible
  because of the Gila River Valley.
• Question of New Orleans vs. St Louis.

3
Union Pacific and Central Pacific

• Union Pacific was to build from west from Omaha,
  while the central pacific was to run lines east
  from Sacramento. These two entities were given
  money from 16,000 to 48,000 based on terrain.
  Were also given land grants for terriortory along
  the way

4
People Working along the Rail
5
People along the Rail
6
What do you think some of the difficulties were?

• In May 1869 the two rails meet at Promontory
  point in Utah