Transcontinental Railroad

Asa Whitney proposed to Congress a plan for the federal government to support the building of a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific.

the unearthing of gold in California increased support for the project.

Controversy started to rise when Congress decided to appropriate funds for multiple suggested routes.

Senator Stephen Douglas trying to benefit his state and rectify this problem created the Kansas-Nebraska Act to gain the support of both the North the South.

The 1862 Act approved a vast amount of land grants which issued construction for the Transcontinental Railroad.

The Union Pacific began construction in Omaha,Nebraska.

The Central Pacific Began construction in Sacramento,California.

The two lines conjoined at Promontory Summit, Utah Compeleting the Transcontental Railroad

3 other railroad were completed

The Great North was completed resulted in the companies receiving mass amounts of land.

These railroads help create the Atlantic,Eastern,Central,Pacific and Mountain time zones.