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In the decad of the 1840s, talk spread about the idea of connecting the two coasts of the United States. The U.S. wanted to expand Democratic way of life from coast to coast. This would make for easier and safer travel. Also would make another option for traveling west othe than the two overland routes, which were dangerous.
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This was the day that The Pacific Railway Act was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln.
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CPR gained permission to begin construction of the railroad. They would go eastward from Sacramento and meet in the middle with the Union Pacific Railroad.
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The UPR gained permission to begin construction. They worked westward from Omaha, hoping to meet the Central Pacific Railroaders in the middle.
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They had to figure out how to cut a path thorugh the Sierra Nevada. They did it by hand drilling and only averaged a few inces of progress per day. When they searched for workers they started going after chinese immigrants.
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50,000 Chinese immigrants came to the U.S. 90% of these immigrants were young men. They did cheap labor.
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They started to divide men up into different shifts thoughtout the day and night. Working progress increased.
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Railroad workers survived and prospered throughout one of the harshest winters in U.S. history. There was an estimate of 40 feet of snow with 80 foot drifts. The Chinese excelled in survival, building a fully functioning city underneath the snow. This city was constructed with various tunnel systems. This allowed them to continue their work on the railroad and gave them a safe place to return to at night.
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The Chinese went on strike while working through the Sierras. 2,000 plus walked off of the job. The strike was not violent, but very organized and calm. The Chinese explained their demands for rights, but were ultimately starved back into work. Though they did not win the strike, they gained a 2 dollar per week raise and respect from fellow workers.
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The Burlingame Treaty held the purpose of getting both the U.S. and China to recognize the "Inherent and inalienable right of man to change his home," and to treat foreign immigrants with respect and equal rights.
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The Central Pacific and Union Pacific started competing on who could get more of the railroad done.
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The railways were joined from the east and west. The Central Pacific layed down 690 miles fo track. The Union Pacific layed 1086 miles of track down.
