USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -One of the groups that literally took on the brunt of the work, were the Chinese laborers. Most of the Chinese workers, who numbered over 11, 000 by the end of the project, were employed by the Central Pacific Railroad building out of Sacramento, California. The use of Chinese labor started as an experiment.

Detailed explanation-2: -During the 19th century, more than 2.5 million Chinese citizens left their country and were hired in 1864 after a labor shortage threatened the railroad’s completion. The work was tiresome, as the railroad was built entirely by manual laborers who used to shovel 20 pounds of rock over 400 times a day.

Detailed explanation-3: -At first railroad companies were reluctant to hire Chinese workers, but the immigrants soon proved to be vital. At first railroad companies were reluctant to hire Chinese workers, but the immigrants soon proved to be vital. They toiled through back-breaking labor during both frigid winters and blazing summers.

Detailed explanation-4: -The California gold rush caused a huge increase in California’s population. That year about 80, 000 gold-seekers came to California, hoping to strike it rich. These migrants were known as “forty-niners.” Nearly eighty percent of these were Americans from the east. The others came from all over the world.