HIST 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Bear River Massacre, Sand Creek Massacre, Dummy Corporation
8 Sep 2017
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Document Summary
Nation needed to find ways to get to the west and had to pass through the great plains. Was dry and had nothing so it was given to the indians. Had to take wagon trains to get to the far west. Railroads were constructed to make travel to the west easier. Generous incentives were given to spur the construction of the railroads as is was unfeasible to do it alone. Gave union pacific and central pacific land and low interest loans as an incentive to build the railroads. Finished railroad was 1700 miles in length. Made possible through cheap labor by the chinese (west), irish and freedmen (east) Up created a dummy company (credit mobilier) to sell themselves materials and got the money back by sending the receipts to congress. However, most viewed the railroads positively and was focused on the progress. Initial settlers became propagandists and selled the west to the east.
