Age of Railroads

By Mr. Hyer, Sturgis Charter Public School Hyannis, MA

sturgiscps.com/jhyer

What is the significance of the transcontinental railroad?

Driving the Golden Spike

Railroad Time•Individual towns set their own times by sun

•Boston & New York off by 12 minutes

•Needed to set standard time for towns

•How do you set precise schedule with 100s of “time zones”?

•Earth divided into 24 time zones

•U.S.: Eastern, Central, Mountain, & Pacific

•Growth of towns

•The growth of industries that could ship to new markets

•Hazardous jobs for railroad workers

•An increase of immigration and migration to the West

What were the effects of Railroad Expansion?

What’s a Pullman Town?

The Pullman Strike of 1894The Pullman Strike of 1894The Pullman Strike of 1894The Pullman Strike of 1894

The Pullman Strike of 1894The Pullman Strike of 1894

The following events and laws helped establish the principle that the federal government has the right to regulate private business

to protect the public interest

Runaway Abuse and Corruption

Credit Mobilier

Granger Laws

Munn v. Illinois (1877)

Interstate Commerce Act (1887)

•1867

•Railroad companies charging more than actual cost, pocketing profits, and paying off government officials.

•Congress investigates

•Officials keep profits and receive slap on wrist

•Vice-President and future president implicated in scandal

Credit Mobilier

State laws setting maximum rates for freight and passengers, and prohibiting discrimination

Grange: Association of Farmers

Granger Laws

•Railroad Companies Sue Illinois

•RRs: “You Can’t Regulate Private Business”

•Supreme Court: “Yes They Can”

•States have right to regulate railroads for the benefit of farmers and consumers

Munn v. Illinois (1877)

Congress responds to 1886 Supreme Court ruling that forbids states to set railroad rates for traffic between states

The Interstate Commerce Act is passed: Gov’t can regulate RRs

Railroads resist through legal challenges

Would not become effective until 1906 under Teddy Roosevelt’s Admin.

Interstate Commerce Act (1887)