The Gilded Age: Growth, Struggle, and Change
The Gilded Age & the West This i mage repre sents the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862, which allowed the United States government to give land and money to railroad companies to encourage westward expansion. The image shows how willing the government was to support railroad compa nies in ord er to connect the country and promote economic growth. It reflects the unending waves of American settlers moving west in search of land, jobs, and new opportunities. American capital pl ayed an important role by providing financial support and land grants, which helped railroad companies grow and made it easier for settlers and businesses to move into western territories. This scene also contributed to the loss of Native American sovereignty because railroad expansion requ ired large am ounts of land that Native tribes already lived on. Laws such as the Pacific Railroad Act and the Homestead Act allowed the government and private compa...
