Mining and Railroads Flashcards
Define subsidy
money or goods given by a person or government to support a project that benefits the public.
Define transcontinental railroad.
A rail line that would connect the Pacific and Atlantic coastlines.
What was a boomtown?
Towns that seemed to pop up almost overnight near mining sites.
How did the government encourage railroads to expand to the West?
The government gave the railroads subsidies and land grants. The government provided more than 130 million acres of land to railroad companies.
If the building of the first transcontinental railroad started in 1862, which President would have authorized its construction?
Abraham Lincoln.
How did mining and railroads draw people to the West?
They wanted to earn profit and become rich.
How did the expansion of railroads to the west change the United States?
The population in the West grew, which allowed states to develop and the country to expand. The landscape changed, resources were gained, time zones created, etc.
Who was Fred Harvey?
He was a businessman who created Harvey House Restaurants.
