Union Pacific

Definition

The Union Pacific Railroad was a major American railroad company that played a crucial role in the development of the western United States during the 19th century. It was one of the primary builders of the First Transcontinental Railroad, which connected the Pacific Coast with the existing railway network in the eastern United States.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Union Pacific Railroad was chartered by the U.S. government in 1862 to build a transcontinental railroad connecting the eastern and western United States.
2. The railroad received significant land grants and financial subsidies from the federal government to incentivize the construction of the transcontinental railroad.
3. The Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroad companies raced to build the transcontinental railroad, meeting at Promontory Point, Utah, in 1869, completing the first transcontinental railroad in the United States.
4. The construction of the Union Pacific Railroad was plagued by the Credit Mobilier scandal, where the company's construction arm overcharged the railroad and distributed the profits to politicians and government officials.
5. The completion of the transcontinental railroad facilitated the rapid settlement and development of the American West, contributing to the displacement of Native American populations and the growth of the agricultural and industrial sectors.

Review Questions

• Explain the role of the Union Pacific Railroad in the development of the American West during the 19th century.
  • The Union Pacific Railroad played a pivotal role in the development of the American West during the 19th century. As one of the primary builders of the First Transcontinental Railroad, the Union Pacific connected the Pacific Coast with the existing railway network in the eastern United States, facilitating the rapid settlement and economic growth of the western states and territories. The railroad's construction was supported by significant land grants and financial subsidies from the federal government, which incentivized the company to push westward. However, the construction of the Union Pacific was also marred by the Credit Mobilier scandal, where the company's construction arm overcharged the railroad and distributed the profits to politicians and government officials, highlighting the corruption and exploitation that sometimes accompanied the rapid expansion of the American West.
• Analyze the impact of the Union Pacific Railroad on the displacement of Native American populations in the western United States.
  • The construction of the Union Pacific Railroad and the transcontinental railroad network had a significant impact on the displacement of Native American populations in the western United States. The rapid settlement and development of the West, facilitated by the railroad, led to the encroachment of European-American settlers onto Native American lands, often resulting in the forced removal and relocation of indigenous communities. The railroad also enabled the transportation of military troops and supplies, which were used to suppress Native American resistance to the expansion of the United States. Additionally, the railroad's impact on the environment, such as the disruption of migratory patterns and the depletion of natural resources, further contributed to the displacement and marginalization of Native American populations. The construction of the Union Pacific Railroad, therefore, was a key factor in the broader process of the dispossession and displacement of Native Americans during the 19th century.
• Evaluate the role of the Union Pacific Railroad in the broader context of the Populist movement and the farmers' revolt in the late 19th century.
  • The Union Pacific Railroad was a significant target of the Populist movement and the farmers' revolt in the late 19th century. Farmers and other rural Americans were increasingly frustrated with the power and influence of large corporations, such as the Union Pacific, which they saw as exploiting and oppressing the working class. The Populists accused the railroad of engaging in unfair practices, such as charging exorbitant freight rates and colluding with politicians to maintain their monopolistic power. The farmers' revolt, which included the formation of organizations like the Farmers' Alliance, sought to challenge the dominance of the Union Pacific and other large corporations, advocating for greater government regulation and the implementation of policies that would protect the interests of small-scale producers and consumers. The conflict between the Populists and the Union Pacific Railroad, therefore, was a key aspect of the broader social and political tensions that characterized the late 19th-century in the United States, as rural and working-class Americans sought to assert their economic and political power against the growing influence of corporate monopolies.

Related terms

Transcontinental Railroad: The First Transcontinental Railroad was a railroad line constructed in the United States between 1863 and 1869, which connected the Pacific coast with the existing railway network in the eastern United States.

Land Grants: The U.S. government provided land grants to the Union Pacific and other railroad companies to encourage the construction of the transcontinental railroad, which involved giving the companies alternating sections of land along the proposed route.

Credit Mobilier Scandal: A major corruption scandal involving the Union Pacific Railroad and its construction company, Credit Mobilier, where the company overcharged the railroad for construction and distributed the profits to politicians and government officials.