What was the biggest obstacle to building the transcontinental railroad?
The biggest obstacle to building the transcontinental railroad in the United States was the geographical and topographical challenges faced by the engineers and laborers working on the project. The construction of the railroad required traversing vast plains, steep mountains, deserts, and rivers, which presented significant obstacles for the workers.
To overcome these challenges, I suggest following these steps to find more detailed information:
1. Start by conducting a search engine query with the keywords "obstacles building transcontinental railroad." This will provide you with a list of relevant sources.
2. Look for reputable historical sources such as books, academic articles, or government publications that discuss the construction of the transcontinental railroad. These sources often provide detailed information on the various obstacles encountered during the project.
3. Explore the geographical features that posed challenges, such as the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the Great Plains. Understand how these obstacles required innovative engineering solutions, including tunneling through mountains, building bridges across rivers, and grading the land to ensure a level track.
4. Consider the impact of extreme weather conditions, such as heavy snowfall and scorching heat, which slowed down construction and further complicated the process.
5. Investigate the logistical and organizational challenges faced by the project, including securing funding, acquiring rights-of-way, managing a vast labor force, and coordinating resources across vast distances.
By following these steps, you will gather a comprehensive understanding of the biggest obstacles faced during the construction of the transcontinental railroad.