Lesson 55 of 84 ยท Westward Expansion
โญ 30 XPChinese Railroad Workers
Chinese railroad workers played a crucial role in building the transcontinental railroad in the 1800s.
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Then & Now
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Chinese railroad workers played a crucial role in building the transcontinental railroad in the 1800s. Many Chinese immigrants came to the United States during the Gold Rush and found work on the railroads. They faced difficult working conditions and were often paid less than their white counterparts. Despite these challenges, their hard work helped connect the East and West coasts of the United States, making travel and trade much easier.
Key Facts
Chinese workers helped build the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s.
Many came to the U.S. during the Gold Rush.
They often faced discrimination and lower pay.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2What major project did Chinese railroad workers help build?
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