Transcontinental Railroada

By hdunlap16

  • The Plan

    Asa Whitney presented to congress a plan to build a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific

  • Settlement of Oregon Boundary

    Increased support for project

  • Acquisition of western territories from Mexico

    Increased support for project

  • Discovery of gold in California

    Increased Support for project

  • Approval

    Congress appropriated funds to survey various proposed routes

  • Kansas-Nebraska Act

    Senator Stephen Douglas, intended to win approval for a line from Chicago, the ensuing sectional controversy between North and South forced a delay in the plans

  • Congress enacted legislation

    Beginning of Transcontinental Railroad

  • Union Pacific RR began construction from Omaha, Nebr

  • Promontory Summit, Utah, and on May 10, 1869

    a golden spike joined the two railways, thus completing the first transcontinental railroad

  • Three additional lines were finished

    the Northern Pacific RR stretched from Lake Superior to Portland, Oreg.; the Santa Fe extended from Atchison, Kans., to Los Angeles; and the Southern Pacific connected Los Angeles with New Orleans

  • A fifth line, the Great Northern, was completed