Instead of reading the book, Charlie Brown & company have a nice little video that covers this topic nicely, and will likely be remembered far longer then a few pages of dry, oversimplified text.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef5oVAYWHeo]
Discussion Questions:
- Name the company that started building in Omaha, Nebraska?
- Name the company that started building in Sacremento, California?
- What did the Federal Government promise the railroad companies for building?
- Where did the two tracks join?
- What is the “Golden Spike”?
- When did building start? When did it end? How many years did it take to complete?
- Which President signed the order to start? Who was President when it was completed?
More Resources:
Central Pacific Railroad Museum
Today in History (a .gov website)
Golden Spike Photo & information (a .gov website)
PBS Documentary: American Experience Trans Continental Railroad
——- Video available on YouTube – Part 1 & Part 2