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Sample PowerPoint Video Storyboard: Westward Expansion

and Western Railroad Building• Why were the

railroads built – who would they serve?

• How were the railroads built – who supplied the labor and who supplied the money?

• What was the impact of the railroad on western expansion and development of the country?

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Why were the railroads built?• Farmers and cattle

ranchers could more easily get their crops and meat to the markets on the east coast and in the south

• Farmers cattle ranchers, miners, and homesteaders could more easily get needed supplies

• Country’s economy would benefit

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How were the railroads built?

• The railroads needed money, engineering knowledge, creative technological solutions to challenging problems, and the labor skills of many men

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Labor Skills• Too few white or black

native-born Americans were willing to work on building the railroad

• The Union Pacific Railroad hired many European immigrants, especially the Irish

• The Central Pacific Railroad hired Mexicans, Irish, Paiute Indians, and Chinese

• Over 12,000 Chinese worked to get the railroad through the Sierra Mountains

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How the Hired Railroad Labor Was Treated

• Poor working conditions

• Long hours• Many injured and

lives lost

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Transcontinental Railroad

• The Union Pacific Railroad built west from Nebraska

• The Central Pacific Railroad built east from California

• The two railroads met at Promontory Point, Utah – May 10, 1869

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Credits

• Director – Jose Gonzales• Writer – Thai Nguyen• Cinematographer – Melissa Smith• Narrator 1 – Jackson O’Neill• Narrator 2 – Thai Nguyen

• Filmed on location at:• Special Thanks to our teacher