USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Irish immigrants were the primary early builders of the Central Pacific Railroad.

Detailed explanation-2: -In addition to Chinese workers and Latter-Day Saints who worked for Central Pacific, Irish immigrants fleeing famine and newly freed slaves laid track across the Great Plains for the Union Pacific Railroad.

Detailed explanation-3: -John Stevens is considered to be the father of American railroads. In 1826 Stevens demonstrated the feasibility of steam locomotion on a circular experimental track constructed on his estate in Hoboken, New Jersey, three years before George Stephenson perfected a practical steam locomotive in England.

Detailed explanation-4: -The building of the Transcontinental Railroad relied on the labor of thousands of migrant workers, including Chinese, Irish, and Mormons workers. On the western portion, about 90% of the backbreaking work was done by Chinese migrants.

Detailed explanation-5: -Three thousand Irish immigrants work mainly on the Union Pacific line going West to East. In 1866, 3, 000 Chinese are hired and soon make up 75% of the Central Pacific (West to East) workforce of 10, 000 to 12, 000 men.