Transcontinental Railroad Research Paper

One of the greatest achievements in America during the 19th century was the construction of the transcontinental railroad. After the southern states left the Union, on July 1, 1862 President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railroad Act. This allowed railroad companies such as the Union Pacific and Central Pacific to build railways connecting the east to the west part of the United States. Foreign immigrants in searching for a better life made the construction of the railroad possible. Thousands of Chinese immigrants came to America, in search of work in the gold mines. During California Gold Rush (1848-1855) it sparked news of great fortunes being made in California, where individuals from around the world believed that it was their ticket …show more content…
They were given the task to find a path between California and Nevada called “Sierra Nevada” that was considered to be the last barrier to overcome to connected the west part of the United States to the rest of the nation. Chinese workers created a tunnel that would go through the mountains of the Nevada, and start laying down railroad tracks. A high demand for more workers the Central Pacific offered a higher wages for any white person willing to work for railroad. Unfortunately, Chinese immigrants provided a cheap and exploitable labor and they had to work longer hours and pay contractors for their own lodging, food, and tools but they provided the white worker accommodation without addition cost. Due to the injustice and the lost of lives on working the Sierra Nevada mountains Chinese workers started too organized and form groups to protest. In 1867, two thousand Chinese railroad workers went on strike for a week demanding increase in wages and reduction in hours equal to white workers. The Central Pacific finally ended the strike when they withhold food supplies for the workers and since they were high on top of the mountain and isolated they had no choice but to disband and continue …show more content…
Like many immigrants communities the Chinese built their own institutions and businesses. The economic depression that happened in the 1870s intensified the prejudice against Chinese. Many angry white workers fought to keep the Chinese labor out of California. In February 1881, a hated debated occur in the U.S. Congress when California senator John F. Miller, well known for his anti-Chinese sentiments introduce a bill to bar Chinese immigrants from entering the United States. John Miller believed that America rightfully belonged to only white people. Many of Miller colleagues completely agreed with him, but despite the popular support for the bill President Chester Arthur vetoed it. President Arthur disagreement against the bill the twenty ban was too long and he also feared the Qing government (Chinese government) would react by shutting down Chinese port where American goods are traded. He actually admired the contribution that Chinese workers made for building the transcontinental railroad and development in agriculture. (Chang p 132) As a result of all the resentment of thirty years against Chinese immigrants the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was signed by Chester A. Arthur the 21th President of the United States on May 6, 1882. The

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