The western pacific railroad 18621870 was formed in 1862 to build a railroad from sacramento, california, to the san francisco bay, the westernmost portion of the first transcontinental railroad. After the completion of the railroad from sacramento to alameda terminal on september 6, 1869, and then the oakland pier on november 8, 1869, which was the pacific coast terminus of the. Basically, the pacific railroad act of 1862 was an act to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the missouri river to the pacific ocean. This event contributed to the success of the republican party of lincoln and was the direct cause. The pacific railway act of 1862 aids the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the missouri river to the pacific ocean. The pacific railroad acts of 1862 were a series of acts of congress that promoted the construction of a transcontinental railroad the pacific railroad in the united states through authorizing the issuance of government bonds and the grants of land to railroad companies. A legal history of railroad land grants in the pacific northwest. We could not eat, and there was no conversation among the hostlers and herdsmen we all sat at the same board. Pacific railroad actthe pacific railroad act, passed by congress in 1862 12 stat. The pacific railroad act facilitated the creation of the first transcontinental railroad, a huge railway line that connected the east of the usa to the west.
Thomas j osborne osbornes work is the first history text to explore the sweep of californias past in relationship to its connections within the maritime world of the pacific basin. The pacific railway act authorized construction of the first transcontinental railroad, extending from the missouri river to the pacific ocean. Each was granted a section of land, on alternating sides of. Pacific railroad act legal definition of pacific railroad act. The pacific railroad acts were a series of acts of congress that promoted the construction of a transcontinental railroad in the united states through authorizing the issuance of government bonds and the grants of land to railroad companies. The pacific railway act july 1, 1862 an act to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the missouri river to the pacific ocean. The pacific railway act was signed into law by president abraham lincoln on july 1, 1862. The civil war and lack of investors slowed the progress of constructing the railroad. Prior to the american civil war, disagreement between the northern and southern states prevented the creation of this railroad.
In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to. Wallace d farnham, the pacific railroad act of 1862, nebraska. Six days later president lincoln found time, amid a host of troubles, to sign the bill. But how to bring such service to his novel hotel on wheels.
It was based largely on a proposed bill originally reported six years earlier on august 16, 1856, to. Learn first pacific railway act of 1862 with free interactive flashcards. Pacific railroad act transcontiental railroad and land. The first large land grants originated with the pacific railroad act of 1862. On july 1, 1862, after decades of debate and disagreement on the matter, lincoln brought the transcontinental railroad to life with a stroke of his pen. As best i can tell, the first major railroad land grants originated with the 1862 legislation that enabled the transcontinental railroad. No longer would people travel in long wagon trains that took months to reach california. Transcript of pacific railway act 1862 our documents. May 10, 2018 the pacific railroad acts were a series of acts of congress that promoted the construction of a transcontinental railroad in the united states through authorizing the issuance of government bonds and the grants of land to railroad companies. Pacific railway act 1862 fedl govt subsidized construction of first western railroad union pacific directed by grenville dodge many irish immigrants went westward from omaha. What the transcontinental railroad did was bring the west into the world, and the. The pacific railway act of 1862 helped join the east and west coasts by rail and served as an important step in the development of the united states.
The first pacific railway act july 1, 1862 authorized the building of the railroad and granted rights of way to the union pacific to build westward from omaha, neb. An act to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the missouri river to the pacific ocean. The act also granted 10 alternate sections of public domain land per mile on both sides. Transcontinental railroad construction, competition. Pacific railway acts, 1862, 1864, two measures that provided federal subsidies in land and loans for the construction of a transcontinental railroad across the united states. Create a series of mining companies along the california. The union pacific did not immediately blossom into a wealthy system but it was rich in land and used this to its advantage. Aug, 2017 this lesson covers the influence of the pacific railroad act and railways on development of the west, starting with the different views onto development of the plains between the north and the south, building of the transcontinental railroad, its significance on settlement of the west. Erik sellman union pacific the pacific railroad act of 1862 was the creating force behind the union pacific railroad company. Its development in the united states mcgrawhill book co. New map of the union pacific railway, the short, quick and safe line to all points west. Some of its provisions were subsequently modified, expanded, or repealed by four additional amending acts.
Farnham on the 25th of june, a hundred years ago, the people of the united states learned from their daily papers that congress had finally passed a pacific railroad bill. The original 1862 act s long title was an act to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the missouri river to the pacific ocean, and to secure to the government the use of the same for postal, military, and other purposes. Pacific railroad act transcontiental railroad and land grants. The 1875 general railway right of way act and marvin m. Students will analyze the pacific railway act of 1862 to determine how it was instrumental in uniting. The first pacific railway act july 1, 1862 authorized the building of the railroad and granted rights of way to the. Jun 22, 2017 the transcontinental railroad was the nations first railway connecting the eastern rail lines to the west coast. The act was approved and signed into law by president abraham lincoln on july 1, 1862. Pacific railway act law and legal definition the pacific railway act of 1862 aids the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the missouri river to the pacific ocean. Transcript of pacific railway act 1862 ourdocuments. The original company, the union pacific rail road was incorporated on july 1, 1862, under an act of congress entitled pacific railroad act of 1862. The need for a transcontinental railway to facilitate transportation of persons and products across the united states became increasingly clear in.
Like the crew on a rowboat, the gandy dancers would all push. Transcontinental railroad apush questions might cover the ways in which the government promoted the development of the railway, including the pacific railroad acts, the motivations for building the railway, and the cultural. Strategic marketing in the passing of the pacific railroad act on july 1 st, 1862. The act was an effort to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the missouri river to the pacific ocean and to secure the use of that line to the.
When constructing its original main line an amended pacific railroad act of 1864 authorized 12,000 acres of land grants for every new mile constructed. The union pacific railroad reporting marks up, upp, upy, legally union pacific railroad company and simply union pacific, is a freighthauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over 32,200 miles 51,800 km routes in 23 u. The union pacific and central pacific worked together to do what. The first major land grant was the pacific railroad act of 1862. The senate passed the pacific railway act on june, 20, 1862, by a vote of 35 to 5. Union pacific rail road, union pacific railway, union pacific railroad mark i, and union pacific railroad. At that time, the union pacific and central pacific railroads were granted 400foot rightofways plus ten square miles of land. Lincoln signed the pacific railroad act of 1862 into law on july 1. The southern secession separation within the democrat party into northern and southern sectors.
The first transcontinental railroad was a 1,912mile 3,077 km continuous railroad line. Beginning in 1862 as a small carrier connecting st. The act also provided land from the public domain and government bonds to help pay for the construction. Pacific railway act law and legal definition uslegal, inc. The pacific railway act passed by congress, and signed into law by president lincoln the original 1862 acts long title was an act to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the missouri river to the pacific ocean, and to secure to the government the use of the same for. Jan 05, 2010 what did the 1862 pacific railway act do.
An act to amend an act entitled an act to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the missouri river to the pacific ocean, and to secure to the government the use of the same for postal, military, and other purposes, approved july 1, 1862. As a pioneering line in virgin territory, it played a vital role in the early development of minnesotas economy. The push for such a railroad began over two years prior, when a group of. Lincoln and grenville dodge, in 1859, discuss the best route for the transcontinental railroad. This lesson covers the influence of the pacific railroad act and railways on development of the west, starting with the different views onto development of the plains between the north and the south, building of the transcontinental railroad, its significance on settlement of the west.
Bought land to build a railroad along the pacific ocean d. Gave land in california to a company that would construct a railroad there b. Consequently, it abandoned the original 1862 western pacific railroad route over altamont pass to niles, except for a section between pleasanton, california, through niles canyon, to the niles district in fremont, california. Railroad land grants explained coxrail railroad stocks. It is thought around 12,000 men died in the process of building the railroad. By the 1860s, the push for a transcontinental railroad reached its height. This act provided federal government support for the building of the first transcontinental railroad, which was completed on may 10. The pacific railroad act of 1862 was the original act. Authorizing the union pacific and the central pacific railroad companies to construct the lines, the legislation. The history of the union pacific railroad stretches from 1862 to the present.
Union pacific erik sellman union pacific the pacific. This act provided federal government support for the building of the. In a democratic society, in order for the public to come to a consensus arguments must be constructed and delivered in a manner such that the public is made to feel a certain way. Official photographs of the central pacific railroad. How did the pacific railroad act help the united states expand westward.
Originally approved by abraham lincoln, the act paved the way for railroad construction between the missouri river and the pacific coast historical overview, n. The pacific railway act of 1862 authorized the union pacific railroad and the central pacific railroad to build a railroad and a telegraph line beginning in omaha, nebraska, and ending in sacramento, california. The central pacific railroad company of california, a corporation existing under the laws of the state of california, are hereby authorized to construct a railroad and telegraph line from the pacific coast, at or near san francisco, or the navigable waters of the sacramento river, to the. The pacific railway act of 1862 was signed into law by abraham lincoln. The northern states supported the railroad as it connected california to its big industrial cities. Featuring 100 milestone documents of american history from the national archives. At least there was no conversation further than a single hurried request, now and then, from one employee to another. The pacific railway act of 1862 authorized the union pacific railroad and the central pacific railroad to build a railroad and a telegraph line beginning in omaha, nebraska, and ending. They could now travel faster, safer, and cheaper by train. The railroad schedules also helped to push the united states into.
Government land grants under the pacific railroad act of 1862. In 1862 congress passed the pacific railway act, which designated the 32nd parallel as the initial transcontinental route and gave huge grants of lands for rightsofway. Pacific railway acts united states history britannica. An act to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the missouri river to the pacific ocean, and to secure to the government the use of the same for postal, military, and other purposes. But in 1862, congress passed the pacific railroad act, and the task of joining the coasts by rail began. The pacific railroad act pacific railroad act howstuffworks. An act to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the missouri river to the pacific ocean, and to secure to the government the use of the. May 04, 2015 pacific railway act of 1862 mrclineok. The functioning of the act resulted in the expansion of roads and it provided new avenues for people to migrate into the u. By the act of congress approved july 1, 1862, pacific railroad act of 1862 to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph from the missouri to the pacific, a grant of land is made, excluding mineral, of every alternate odd numbered section, to the amount of five alternate sections per mile, on each side of the route. The rapid settlement of the western territories in the 1850s convinced most members of congress of the need for efficient rail transport to the pacific coast, but which route would the railroad follow. The need for a transcontinental railway to facilitate transportation of persons and products across the united states became increasingly clear in the 1850s due to the acquisition of california and. We can point out some significant events that happened prior to president lincoln, who was elected in 1860, signed the pacific railroad act, such as.
Think of it as kind of like the government paying for the construction although indirectly. Choose from 48 different sets of first pacific railway act of 1862 flashcards on quizlet. For operations of the current railroad, see union pacific railroad. Other sections of the 1903 route are still operated by the altamont corridor express, and the union pacific railroad. Transcontinental railroad apush questions might cover the ways in which the government promoted the development of the railway, including the pacific railroad acts, the motivations for building the railway, and the cultural, economic, and political outcomes of its construction. That made the project a payasyougo program, creating wealth out of the very land made accessible by the railroad.
Which event happened prior to president lincoln signing. The pacific railway act, which became law on july 1, 1862, offered government incentives to assist men of talent, men of character, men who are willing to invest in developing the nations first transcontinental rail line. And with that same stroke, he created union pacific. The pacific railroad act of 1863 pacific railroad act of 1864 pacific railroad act of 1865 and pacific railroad act of 1866. The act was approved by president abraham lincoln, and it provided for the construction of railroads from the missouri river to the pacific as a war measure for the preservation of the union. Established the union pacific railroad established the central pacific railroad gave livestock to railroad companies gave loans and land to railroad companies decided where the railroad would meet in the middle. The transcontinental railroad was the nations first railway connecting the eastern rail lines to the west coast. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to west. History westward expansion the first transcontinental railroad stretched from the east coast of the united states to the west coast. The cp built east out of sacramento, while the up built westward from omaha. Includes images of original primary source documents, lesson plans, teacher and student competitions, and educational resources. How did the pacific railroad act help the united states. The house of representatives passed the pacific railway act on june 24, 1862, by a vote of 104 to 21. Basically, the act gave the central pacific and union pacific railroads bonds and land grants to build the transcontinental railroad.
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