Transcontinental Railroad and Urbanization Impact

The video covers the impact of railroads on industrialization, focusing on the Transcontinental Railroad's construction and its challenges. It discusses the role of immigrant labor, particularly Chinese workers, and the resulting nativism leading to the Chinese Exclusion Act. The video also highlights the economic growth and corruption associated with railroads, and the urbanization challenges such as overcrowding and sanitation issues. The session concludes with a reminder of an upcoming test.

What major societal shift occurred during the Gilded Age due to industrialization?

• Movement from urban to rural areas

• Increased agricultural production

• Movement from rural to urban areas

• Decline in factory jobs

What was a significant effect of the rapid construction of railroads after the Civil War?

• Reduced market size for products

• Increased isolation of regions

• Accelerated national industrialization

• Decreased industrialization

Which groups primarily made up the workforce for the Transcontinental Railroad?

• Southern plantation owners

• Native Americans and African Americans

• European immigrants and ex-convicts

• Irish, Chinese, and Japanese immigrants

What was a major challenge faced by workers on the Transcontinental Railroad?

• Excessive government regulation

• Lack of materials

• Hostile weather conditions

• Shortage of labor

What was a key benefit of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad?

• Reduced economic growth

• Limited urban expansion

• Increased isolation of the West

• Decreased travel time between coasts

How did the Transcontinental Railroad impact timekeeping in the United States?

• It caused confusion in timekeeping

• It introduced standardized time zones

• It led to the creation of a single national time zone

• It eliminated the need for time zones

What was the Credit Mobilier scandal associated with?

• Fraudulent construction contracts for railroads

• Mismanagement of agricultural subsidies

• Illegal immigration practices

• Unfair labor practices in factories

What was a consequence of the corruption in the railroad industry during the Gilded Age?

• Lower transportation costs for farmers

• Higher rates for Western farmers

• Increased government transparency

• Decreased urbanization

Why did people move from rural areas to urban areas during the industrial era?

• To find jobs in factories

• To escape overcrowded cities

• To start agricultural businesses

• To avoid industrial pollution

What was a major problem faced by cities during the rise of urbanization?

• Excessive sanitation standards

• Abundance of clean water

• Surplus of housing

• Overcrowded living conditions