The rise of railroads played an enormous part in uniting the eastern United States to the West. Readers look at the planning and execution of the Transcontinental Railroad including the obstacles faced in the race to complete it. Readers will also gain a sense of what roles immigration and migration played in building the railroad, what life was like for railroad workers, and how railroad workers of different races were treated differently. Larger issues such as the railroad's impact on Native Americans and how transportation led to the growth of industry are also explored.