Jobs for Immigrants

Question

Factory Jobs and Railroads

During the Industrial Revolution in America, the dreams of immigrants collided with the harsh realities of challenging living and working conditions.

Challenges Along the East Coast:
Immigrants settling on the East Coast found themselves engaged in demanding manufacturing jobs.
Long Hours, Low Wages: Factories demanded 12-hour workdays for meager pay.
Poor Working Conditions: Six-day work weeks in uncomfortable settings—hot in summer, freezing in winter, and generally dirty.
Struggles in the West:
The westward expansion, fueled by the Transcontinental Railroad, introduced its own set of difficulties.
Increased Demand: Westward expansion led to a rising need for railroad workers.
Asian Immigrants: Many immigrants from Asian countries filled these roles.
Similar Struggles: Asian immigrant railroad workers faced challenges similar to their East Coast counterparts—low wages and long work hours.
The late 1800s saw a massive increase in the amount of people heading West in the United States. What enabled this population shift to occur?

the Transcontinental Railroad

roads paved with gold

rivers and steamboats

Answer 1

The correct answer is the Transcontinental Railroad. The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 connected the East and West Coasts of the United States, making it easier and faster for people to travel and settle in the western part of the country. This transportation infrastructure was a major factor in enabling the population shift towards the West during the late 1800s.