The question is designed to have students examine how transportation improvements (infrastructure as a
whole) impact the economy and environment. For the historical portion, you will need to describe the need for
the railroad (California was isolated) and its fight. In the second part, students are expected to relate it to
modern infrastructure plans and the need for improvements. Presidents Obama, Trump, and Biden have
proposed (or mentioned) substantial infrastructure overhauls, but it faced difficulties (which is why we still do
not have one).
Questions: Describe how the transcontinental railroad (California side, so no Union Pacific) was built
(challenges, labor, money, etc.). Compare that to today's highways, high-speed railway, and any other
transportation form (President Trump's Infrastructure Plan may be included).
Material
Chapter 14
Documents:
Chapter Title, The Battle of the MapsPreview the document
The Pacific Railroad RediscoveredPreview the document
Images:
Central Pacific Railroad PicturesLinks to an external site.
Other Sources:
Building the Transcontinental Railroad YouTube Video (Links to an external site.)
Trump's Infrastructure Plan(Analysis)
NPR Analysis
Brookings Inst. Analysis (Liberal Thinktank)
CNN Money Analysis (it's more political)
CATO Inst. Analysis (Conservative Thinktank)
Biden's Proposals
Campaign Wishes (Links to an external site.) (not what they proposed to Congress)
A historical example from the module. Remember to use "who, what, where, and when" for this part of the
paper.
Explain a modern example that relates to the historical topic. Provide details (who, what, where, and when).
For example, Telsa and how it is changing the way we drive and beyond that point (their technology).
Analyze the topic by linking the past to the present. If there is a source provided, then you can use it
Sample Solution