National Transportation System

1. National Transportation System Standard 4.1 E.Q. How did transportation Systems change during this time period?

2. Railroad Construction • Prior to the Civil War; • Increased tensions between Northern and Southern states.

3. The Pacific Railway Act • A series of acts of Congress that promoted the construction of the transcontinental railroad in the U.S. • Authorizing the issuance of government bonds • Grants of land to railroad companies • Established in the early years of the civil war after the South states were absent of a vote, gave control to the north. • Promoted building because it provided both a route and land to sell to raise capital for the building of the tracks. • Also increased tensions between the North and South.

4. Homestead Act • Law granting western farm land to settlers for free as long as they created a home there. • Congress offers 160 acres of land to the head of the household. • Most land was taken by people seeking profits instead of going to families. • Cut – throat competition drove some RR’s into bankruptcy which then threw the nations economy into depression.

5. Advantages of the railroads Opened the development of a national market by linking all parts of the country. Provided access for farmers and ranchers to markets in the East as well as access for emerging industries to the natural resources of the West. Promoted westward expansion and industry growth.

6. Disadvantages of the Railroad • Credit Mobiliers: A construction company created by the railroad; • Stockholders gave this company a contract to lay track at 2 to 3 times the actual cost and pocketed the profits. • Most of these stockholders that profited were politicians. • Big Business got rebates and fixed prices from the Railroad through corruption and to hurt farmers.

7. Push of Native Americans • White settlers were attracted to the West due to free land and access to new markets by the railroad. • Believed in owning the land while Indians believed that God did. • Would force Native American off their land to reservations to make way for white settlers. • Similar to the Trail of Tears

8. Immigrants spread to the West. • Native Americans were forced to agree to treaties that moved them to smaller reservations where they were taken advantage of by the U.S. government. • Children were taken from there families to boarding schools in the east to be taught English and act American. • Immigrants would travel to the West; mostly Irish, Chinese, and Africans – Americans. • West contributed to industrialization by providing raw materials & land for future development.

9. Dawes Severalty Act • Used to assimilate into American society. • Tribal lands were divided into farming parcels and given to individual families. • Aimed to “Americanize” the Native Americans in exchange for land in the reservation. • Assimilation: Native Americans give up their belief and way of life and become part of white culture. • Did not match the cultural habits of native peoples who believed in tribal ownership of lands • Common policies by the federal government throughout the late 1800’s.

10. Wounded Knee • Occurred in Wounded Knee, South Dakota. • Started because Native Americans attempted to revive their traditions such as the Ghost, Dance, which United Army viewed as a threat. • Killed all men, women, and children and followed theme even when the Indians retreated. • Over 150 people died • As a result of the battle Native Americans were left in poverty and cultural decline.