2 jan 1869 ano - First Transcontinental Railroad Finished, The Grange

Descrição:

- Completed with Golden Spike in Utah, joined the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads

CHANGES IN TRANSPORTATION (1860-1900)
- The govt. gave land grants to the railroads
- RR transport. provided opportunities for movement of goods and people to the West and raw materials to the East
- Construction affected population movement (ex. RR's made Chicago one of the most populous cities in the US by 1900)

THE GRANGE & GRANGE LAWS
- The Grange: agricultural organization throughout the Midwest est. to protect farmers' rights
- Helped create laws in Midwestern states to regulate unfair pricing and practices for the railroad and grain elevators (Grange Laws)
- Initially upheld in SCOTUS case Munn v. Illinois
- Overturned in Wabash v. Illinois, where the court ruled that states couldn't regulate interstate commerce