The Beginnings of the Transcontinental Railroad

The idea of a railroad that spanned across the nation begun as early as the 1830s when the first steam locomotive had its first trial run. People at first didn't believe that such a railroad could be built, as it would take an extremely large sum of money and a workforce of thousands. But almost everyone by then had confided that a transcontinental railroad would completely change the nation. Uniting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans could fill the desire known as Manifest Destiny, and make trading simple and profitable. With the gold rush still going strong and the general idea of westward expansion prospering, hoards of people wished to be in states like California; their options to take a covered wagon across the Great Plains or through Panama.

The first person to make progress with the transcontinental railroad was Theodore Judah. He believed that there was an easy way across the Rocky Mountains where tracks could be laid, and later set out for his quest for this passage. Judah was known as "Crazy Judah" because of his obsession with railroads. While looking in Sacramento, he came across his biggest investors, Leland Stanford, Charles Crocker, Mark Hopkins, and Collis Huntington; mainly wealthy store owners. They saw the great potential for project, seeing that their businesses would profit from it.

In 1862, Congress finally decided to support the railroad by passing the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862, and President Abraham Lincoln signing it on July 1. The Act made possible for two companies to construct a railroad to link the East and West, with land and money for every mile after forty miles. The two designated companies were to be the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific, which was created with the Act. This was very important as many investors were skeptical and the only people with money to provide support were the government. Later Congress would pass the Pacific Railroad Act of 1864, doubling the given money and land. This caused a panic for both companies, for they both wanted to gain more ground than the other, simply because of the money.