Module 4 Reflection: Western Economic Expansion: Railroads and Cattle
http://www.americanyawp.com/text/17-conquering-the-west/ To began during Western Economic Expansion natural resources were a major factor to help the western economy grow. Through growth and connections, the number of settlers began trying to move the Native people out to then replace the memory of the Wild West . No other government had attracted such a huge lump sum of capital until the "first modern business enterprise", also known as railroads came to better the United States. This business created an opportunity for some and also created the American West. The transcontinental railroad went across western plains and mountains connected to the West Coast. These were built by the west Central Pacific and from the east by the Union Pacific, the two roads were linked in Utah in 1869 to great national fanfare. The 1862 Pacific Railroad Act gave bonds of between $16,000 and $48,000 for each mile of construction and provided vast land grants to railroad companies. 1850 to 1871
