Transcontinental Railroad. by Yinghong (River Albrecht), Hongkong (Juan Pablo Flores), Theodore Judah (Sean Homan), and Zingzong (Melena Krownapple)

Transcription

1 Transcontinental Railroad by Yinghong (River Albrecht), Hongkong (Juan Pablo Flores), Theodore Judah (Sean Homan), and Zingzong (Melena Krownapple)

2 Introduction It s 1863 and construction has begun on a transcontinental, or coastto-coast, railroad in order to connect the east to the west. Many soldiers who had fought in the Civil War and many Chinese and Irish immigrants are building the rail system. We are one of these railroad builders and we ve joined one of the two companies who are competing to lay down the most track.the company that we are working for is the Central Pacific Railroad. Who ever lays down the most track will get more money and more land.the two railroads need to get Promontory, Utah.

3 Why Was The Transcontinental Railroad Built June 10,1863 Dear Journal, I am Theodore Judah and I want to build a transcontinental railroad. Here s why. It would help the economy by supporting jobs like railroad building jobs. Another reason is to transport food and other supplies. The west would transport raw materials to east and the east would manufacture the goods. The biggest reason of all is to transport people. If you travel by horse, wagon or by foot, it would take six months. With a train it would take two weeks. Now do you understand why I want to build a transcontinental railroad. Sincerely, Theodore Judah Theodore Judah

4 Map of the Transcontinental Railroad

5 Supply List nut bolt spike fishplate maul crowbar iron car for hauling supplies shovel rail gauge hammer black powder/tnt tamping bar

6 What Hardships And Obstacles Did You Face Along The Way 1863 Dear Diary, I am writing about how my week was dreadful. First on Sunday three men got buried in a avalanche. It was 40 feet deep. Next my best friend got his hand blown off by a black powder explosion. He was putting black powder in a hole and it went off early. On Tuesday we had to dig a hole through the mountain. We only got a few inches in all day. Wednesday was the only day that was good. We got the day off. On Thursday, it was so cold we couldn t feel our ears. My brother died of starvation that night. It s going to be awhile before we finish the railroad. Ying Hong

7 What Hardships And Obstacles Did You Face Along The Way May 10, 1869 Dear Diary, We got to Utah... it rained and it rained and it rained. It was so hard because the tracks would slide out of place after setting them down. We finished the railroad and the Golden Spike was hit into place. Everyone cheered. I am very happy. Ying Hong

8 What Interactions With People Did You You Experience Along The Way Dear Journal 1865 July Life was hard in China and I couldn t find a job and there was a war going on. So then the big four wrote me a letter to come work on the transcontinental railroad. I accepted this challenge because you get payed 1.00 a day and for one month you get payed That is why I left to the U.S.A. Sincerely, Hong Kong

9 What Interactions With People Did You You Experience Along The Way Dear Journal, 1865 October Today is a hard day on the railroad. Because the Cheyenne indians came and got mad that we were building over their land so they started ripping up track and killing workers. So the U.S. government called the army led by William T. Sherman to stop the Cheyenne indians. Sincerely, Hong Kong

10 What was it like to make it to Promontory, Utah? Dear Journal, May 10,1869 I will tell you all about my bad, bad days on the railroad. I was in the Central Pacific Railroad compony. There was a race against the Union Pacific Railroad for which company could lay down the most track. The winner would get a reward of money and more land. Our company won! Large amounts of workers gathered for a celebration. Mr. Leland Stanford of the Central Pacific Railroad held up the Golden Spike. On the spike was written May God continue the unity of our country as this railroad united the two great oceans of the world. Mr. Leland Stanford tried to put the golden spike into the railroad tie but couldn t, so some workers had to help him. I can t believe I finished the railroad and won the race! Zing Zin (Melena k.)

11 What was it like to make it to Promontory, Utah? Dear Journal, May 21, 1869 The indians were sad because they couldn t roam and be free. I was working on the railroad and I saw an indian up on a hill. I saw the indian and he was giving me the evil eye! He was holding a weapon and I thought what will he do with that weapon? Then he rode off on his horse. After he left, I felt weird because it was weird. Even though the indian was sad, I will work on the railroad still. Zing Zin (Melena k.)

12 Bibliography Darice Bailer, Railroad!, Soundprints Division, John Perritano, The Transcontinental Railroad, Scholastic, Tiffany Lin, Why Was The Transcontinental Railroad Built, 24/1/2013

13 Thank you for reading!