The information provided is supplemental in nature and is not, and should not be considered or deemed to be better than that available in the companys publicly available reports filed with the. Official photographs of the central pacific railroad construction, between 1862 and 1869 photographed and published by alfred a. What problems did the central pacific railroad face. The first pacific railway act july 1, 1862 authorized the building of the railroad and granted rights of way to the. Learn first pacific railway act of 1862 with free interactive flashcards. Corporation 20 investor fact book 39 20, available at.
Civil rights act 1866 passed by congress over the veto of president andrew johnson. Called for the building of the transcontinental railroad to stretch across america connecting california and the rest of america. The history of the union pacific railroad stretches from 1862 to the present. For operations of the current railroad, see union pacific railroad. I honestly did not know that chinese laborers had to pull three locomotives.
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 rights of way. Pacific railroad act transcontiental railroad and land. 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. 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. This act provided federal government support for the building of the first transcontinental railroad, which was completed on may 10. That made the project a payasyougo program, creating wealth out of the very land made accessible by the railroad. A compromise of this bill was subsequently submitted. A gave land in california to a company that would construct a railroad there b created the union pacific railroad c bought land to build a railroad along the pacific ocean d provided land for a transcontinental railroad 2. The first major land grant was the pacific railroad act of 1862. There were many challenges to building the railroad east from sacramento, ca. The 2018 investor fact book provides additional explanatory information regarding union pacific that may not be available, included or directly derived from information in the companys annual report. Union pacific erik sellman union pacific the pacific. What did the pacific railroad act of 1862 accomplish. That westward expansion was greatly aided by the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, and passage of the homestead act in 1862.
The pacific railroad act of 1862 granted central pacific, along with the union. Pacific railroad act transcontiental railroad and land grants. Choose from 48 different sets of first pacific railway act of 1862 flashcards on quizlet. 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. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The pacific railroad act pacific railroad act howstuffworks. The act also granted 10 alternate sections of public domain land per mile on both sides. Government land grants under the pacific railroad act of 1862. Not until the civil war gave the republican party unquestioned control did the project gain ultimate approval. This act, passed on july 1, 1862, provided federal subsidies in land and loans for the construction of a transcontinental railroad across 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. The need for a transcontinental railway to facilitate transportation of persons and products across the united states became increasingly clear in. Tells the story of how the transcontinental railroad was built during the 1800s.
Congress founded howard university, one of several new colleges for africanamericans, in 1867. The president of union pacific since 2015 is lance fritz. The northern states supported the railroad as it connected california to its big industrial cities. 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 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 railroad act of 1863 pacific railroad act of 1864 pacific railroad act of 1865 and pacific railroad act of 1866. Strategic marketing in the passing of the pacific railroad act on july 1 st, 1862. That act provided free 160acre lots in the unsettled west to anyone who would file a claim, live on the land for five years and make improvements to it, including building a dwelling. Pacific railway act law and legal definition uslegal, inc. Founded in 1862, the original union pacific rail road was part of the first. Originally approved by abraham lincoln, the act paved the way for railroad construction between the missouri river and the pacific coast historical overview, n.
He did not push his surveys beyond the point at which he reached the. The union pacific railroad legally union pacific railroad company and simply union pacific. President abraham lincoln signed the pacific railroad act of 1862 into law. The 1862 pacific railroad act spurred the union pacific to complete a transcontinental rail link. 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. 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.
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. 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. Pacific railroad actthe pacific railroad act, passed by congress in 1862 12 stat. The push for such a railroad began over two years prior, when a group of. Between 1862 and 1864, governor stanford and his allies pushed through state. 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. It was based largely on a proposed bill originally reported six years earlier on august 16, 1856, to. Chinese immigrants provided much of the labor for construction of the transcontinental railroad. A create a series of mining companies along the california. The union pacific railroad is the principal operating company of the union pacific corporation, both headquartered in omaha, nebraska. Erik sellman union pacific the pacific railroad act of 1862 was the creating force behind the union pacific railroad company.
Donations are tax deductible under federal and state law. Transcontinental railroad construction, competition. 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. We invite you to explore how the nations largest railroad came to be and how up continues to build america with innovation and tenacity, touching the lives of nearly every citizen. The act also provided land from the public domain and government bonds to help pay for the construction. The pacific railroad act of 1862 was a congressional law supporting the construction of a transcontinental railway line across the united states, allowing the issuance of government bonds and the granting of land for the benefit of the railways. 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 pacific railroad act of 1862 was the original act. Its development in the united states mcgrawhill book. Huntington, leland stanford, mark hopkins, and charles crocker. Aug 15, 2019 the 1862 homestead act accelerated settlement of u. On july 1, 1862 president abraham lincoln signed into law the pacific railway act of 1862 which hereby created and erected into a body corporate.
The functioning of the act resulted in the expansion of roads and it provided new avenues for people to migrate into the u. This act provided federal government support for the building of the first transcontinental railroad, which was completed on may 10, 1869. Opinion 150 years of working on the railroad the new york times. Wallace d farnham, the pacific railroad act of 1862, nebraska history 43 1962. Central pacific railroad, american railroad company founded in 1861 by a group of california merchants known later as the big four collis p. 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. 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. Official photographs of the central pacific railroad. Pacific railroad act legal definition of pacific railroad act. Congress in 1862 passed the pacific railroads act, which set the framework for the construction of a central transcontinental route. 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. The 1862 pacific railroad act spurred the union pacific to.
Union pacific rail road, union pacific railway, union pacific railroad mark i, and union pacific railroad. Transcript of pacific railway act 1862 ourdocuments. Union pacific celebrates the shared stories that have shaped our country since 1862. The union pacific railroad system is the second largest in the united states after bnsf and is one of the worlds largest transportation companies. The pacific railroad act, passed by congress in 1862 12 stat.
Summary photographs show views and scenery in calif. The 1875 general railway right of way act and marvin m. Its development in the united states mcgrawhill book co. An act to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the missouri river to the pacific ocean. We are one of the oldest and largest independent rail enthusiast organizations in the united states, having an average annual membership of over 250. The 1862 homestead act accelerated settlement of u. 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. 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. Pacific railway acts united states history britannica. And with that same stroke, he created union pacific.
The project gutenberg ebook of chapters on the history of the. Prior to the american civil war, disagreement between the northern and southern states prevented the creation of this railroad. Congress in 1862 passed the pacific railroads act, which set the framework for the construction of. Be it enacted, that any person who is the head of a family, or who has arrived at the age of twentyone years, and is a citizen of the united states, or who shall have filed his declaration of intention to become such, as required by the. 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.
This act provided federal government support for the building of the. The pacific railway act was signed into law by president abraham lincoln on july 1, 1862. New map of the union pacific railway, the short, quick and safe line to all points west. 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. Some of its provisions were subsequently modified, expanded, or repealed by four additional amending acts. 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. This was a book written by andrew carnegie that described the responsibility of the rich to be philanthropists. The building of the transcontinental railroad graphic history.
The pacific railway act of 1862 aids the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the missouri river to the pacific ocean. 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. 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. Other sections of the 1903 route are still operated by the altamont corridor express, and the union pacific railroad. 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. 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. 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. Later efforts to promote the railroad ran into sectional differences. At least there was no conversation further than a single hurried request, now and then, from one employee to another. 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 postal, military, and other purposes.
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 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. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers. Debo galloways book the first transcontinental railroad, published posthumously in. By the 1860s, the push for a transcontinental railroad reached its height. It is thought around 12,000 men died in the process of building the railroad. In addition, the fair rail act expands the terms and conditions associated with the interswitching. It was said that if the pacific railroad bill then pending in congress should be passed. Pacific railroad society is a railroad club for people who like railroad history and travel. The pacific railway act authorized construction of the first transcontinental railroad, extending from the missouri river to the pacific ocean. 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.
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