Search Our Essay Database

Essay Instructions: Precis:

A Track That Unified a Nation
How the railroad industrialized America

The United States in the nineteenth century developed a system of railroads to move people and goods across the country. Railroads first developed in the East, but swiftly moved westward and eventually spider-webbing all across the U.S. The railroad system would attract people and in result towns would have to expand. The effect that the railroads had on the U.S economy and societies in general was monumental at the time. This paper will examine how the railroad evolved and how the railroad boosted America. The focus will primarily be of the 1860s when the transcontinental railroad broke ground. The railroad project allowed the east to link to the west, while towns along the rail line flourished.

Annotated bibliography:

?Transcontinental railroads [videorecording] / A&E Television Nwtwork.? New York, NY : A&E Home Video : marketed in the U.S. by New Video Group, 1995,1994

The transcontinental railroad would become an engineering fantasy turned reality. With the engineering marvels also brought many technological issues that occurred as union works laid tracks from the west and from the east in the 1860s. The film shows how the transcontinental railroad represented a chain that gradually linked the east to the west, which would make cross-country traveling much easier and quicker than ever before.

?Uniting the States: The First Transcontinental Railroad.? Jeff Brown., Jul/Aug2012, Vol. 82 Issue 7/8, p40-42. 3p.

In this article, Brown reviews the planning and construction of the very first transcontinental railroad in America. Brown?s scope surveys the development of the railroad from 1862 through 1869. This article provides a wide variety of topics that range from the legislation of the Pacific Railroad Act to the competition between two railroad companies, which were the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific. Brown delivers a thorough perspective of the challenges railroad companies had to endure during the construction.

?The Country Railroad Station in America.? H. Roger Grant and Charles W. Bohi., 1978

During the early twentieth century, many rural/small-town railroad depots were the central part that allowed people to connect with the outside world. These railroad stations were essential to communities because they provided mail service, passenger trains, a telegraph post etc. This combined analysis by Grant and Bohi discuss the differences of the boom depots first brought, to the decline of depots as technological advancements occurred. This book provides a couple hundred pictures and floor plans of a variety of railroad stations, ranging from New York to California. The authors provide an extensive bibliography and a full index that complement this text.

?Railroads triumphant : the growth, rejection, and rebirth of a vital American force.? Albro Martin., New York : Oxford University Press, 1992

Martin believes the railroad was a fundamental invention that allowed America to become efficient and economical in the means of transportation. With the railroads being the first major industry in America, they assisted major cities in becoming established and would influence urban developments. After the completion of the transcontinental railroad, the railroads brought U.S mail/telegraphs to each American city, which united Americans and made for modern communication to be possible. Martin outlines the economic history of railroads dating back to the 1830s up until the decline post WWI. The author believes that the railroads administered the development of small-towns throughout America. Also, Martin closely analyzes the increased government regulations and the control that government had during the 2nd -3rd quarters of the twentieth century.

?American railroads.? John F. Stover, 1997, Chicago, Ill. : University of Chicago Press

Stover covers primarily the history and the industry of railroads thoroughly through his research. The author takes into account the rise and fall of the use of railroads and how government used regulations involving postal train usage, which is discussed briefly. However, Stover reviews a rather vast timeline ranging from the first railroads being built up until the late 1950s. The author provides a detailed index as well as an assortment of recommending reading.

?Railroads and the Making of Modern America.? Railroads.unl.edu., William Thomas 2006-2011

Thomas presents a website that examines the social effects that railroads brought as he explores how the rail lines transformed America. During the transition into the nineteenth century the railroad brought new ideas and practices that would assist in uniting America. Thomas studies the progression of social change between the 1850 through the 1900s as the growth of rail lines expanded along with other technologies.

Essay Instructions: Refering to the Railroads Map under The Corporation in Ch. 17 of American History: A Survey under to study the progression of the nation's railroad system during 1870. After studying this map, imagine yourself as a business promoter seeking new immigrant labor from either Europe or Asia.

Describe the economic opportunitites beckoning newcomers in all regions of the country as a result of industrialization, urbanization, and immigration.

Essay Instructions: 3. Economic Opportunities Paper (Due Week Two)
Use the Railroads map http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/3/student_view0/chapter17/interactive_maps.html under The Corporation to study the progression of the nation’s railroad system during 1870. After studying this map, imagine yourself as a business promoter seeking new immigrant labor from either Europe or Asia. Prepare a 3 page paper in which you describe the economic opportunities beckoning newcomers in all regions of the country as a result of industrialization, urbanization, and immigration.

Essay Instructions: Two Parts to this assignment
1st part:
Refer to the Railroads Map under The Corporation in Ch. 17 of American History: A Survey to study the progression of the nation?s railroad system during 1870. After studying this map, imagine yourself as a business promoter seeking new immigrant labor from either Europe or Asia.
Write a 400 word paper in which you describe the economic opportunities beckoning newcomers in all regions of the country as a result of industrialization, urbanization, and immigration.
Part 2 is a team assignment and my team has started the paper I just need to add 200 words to the assignment.
Here is the begging of our paper :
?Going Beyond Mere Facts
Dates, battles, and people are not the only important items to remember about history. To know that the Gettysburg Address was written on the back of an envelope, or paper bag, is a good conversation starter, but without any further knowledge of Gettysburg or Lincoln, or the Civil War would make the conversation short. Professor Sam Wineburg of the University of Washington wrote a book on this problem in high school and college students. As general history teaches Abraham Lincoln was against slavery and wanted Negros to be free. Dr. Wineburg tells students to look further than the lines in text books, read letters and speeches of historic people. As with Lincoln, one would learn that yes he did want to abolish slavery, but suggested that slaves, even when freed, should not have full civil rights (ref).
From the Civil War, the United States of America became a greater melting pot of the world. Cities, towns, and villages could now begin to celebrate historic events and local contributions to freedom for everyone, Blacks, Irish, Polish, German, and the French to mention but a few. Dr. Wineburg wanted to stress upon the masses that learning beyond the headlines can help not only an individual, but communities as well.?

Then my section is after next.

Here are the instructions for our team assignment
Cultural phenomena of all kinds developed during the Gilded Age, including Central Park band concerts, musical shows, and spectator sports such as baseball to boxing.
Select three articles from the Electronic Reserve Readings concerning the cultural phenomena that developed in the Gilded Age. ( I don?t have the articles because the links are corrupted)
Write a 150-word summary of your selected articles in which you describe how and why mass society arose in the Gilded Age. Be sure to include in your description at least one example or event from each of your selected articles.