Fall 2015 History is often only taught but never questioned because of the impossibility to change what has already happened. However, Richard White, the author of “Railroaded” does exactly that, questions transcontinental life in the Gilded Age. White is a well-respected historian and professor from Stanford University who, during the 2007-2008 recession, was inspired to write about the strangely-familiar recessions of our nations past. This book provides great insight regarding the idea of railroads and whether or not such an invention was a good and needed advancement at the time. This paper will analytically criticize, praise and discuss Whites argument, effectiveness and credibility of the railroad industry. “Railroaded” is a well-written,
…show more content…
“The best way to understand the transcontinentals’ simultaneous failure as businesses and success as sources of individual fortunes for insiders is to regard them not as new businesses devoted to the efficient sale of transportation but rather as corporate containers for financial manipulations and political networking” (White, Introduction). This statement is exactly what White chooses to expand upon throughout his well-informed and organized book while specifically targeting the political side of this statement in chapter four. White expands upon the social network between such politicians, newspapers and bankers and how these relationships strengthened and justified the idea of railroads to the public eye throughout the third section of chapter one. White also discussed the quarrel over space including the taking of land from the Native Americans as well as from Western farmers. Finally, White continues to discuss the communal destruction and racial influence that the railroads had on 1800s America such as immigration and labor, particularly, which White expands upon throughout chapter seven of “Railroaded”. White will try to inform and persuade his audience to see these factors of the railroad construction and …show more content…
“Railroaded” is a text that all those interested in United States history should consider reading but should be read with prior knowledge and an open mind. White is accurate in all his accusations of the railroad and its investors, politicians and businessmen. His information is correctly worded and justified with well-known research. Whites point of view of the transcontinental railroads should be spread and taught around America as an example of our American history being flawed and not always perfect. With his research, credibility and intriguing use of terminology White proves a very much precise, strong point against the production of railroads. “A basic problem of the transcontinentals was that they were built ahead of demand. That a transcontinental railroad might be a good idea in 1900 does not explain building it in the 1860s, 1870s, and 1880s, particularly when the results contributed to two depressions in the 1870s and 1890s and a sharp, if short, economic downturn in the 1880s” (White, Introduction). This statement should be strongly considered by all of Whites audience when reading “Railroaded” and should be remembered for when White expands on this statement for further detail and information throughout his book. This book should be read in order to prevent future, repeated mistakes, such as recessions like
“The best way to understand the transcontinentals’ simultaneous failure as businesses and success as sources of individual fortunes for insiders is to regard them not as new businesses devoted to the efficient sale of transportation but rather as corporate containers for financial manipulations and political networking” (White, Introduction). This statement is exactly what White chooses to expand upon throughout his well-informed and organized book while specifically targeting the political side of this statement in chapter four. White expands upon the social network between such politicians, newspapers and bankers and how these relationships strengthened and justified the idea of railroads to the public eye throughout the third section of chapter one. White also discussed the quarrel over space including the taking of land from the Native Americans as well as from Western farmers. Finally, White continues to discuss the communal destruction and racial influence that the railroads had on 1800s America such as immigration and labor, particularly, which White expands upon throughout chapter seven of “Railroaded”. White will try to inform and persuade his audience to see these factors of the railroad construction and …show more content…
“Railroaded” is a text that all those interested in United States history should consider reading but should be read with prior knowledge and an open mind. White is accurate in all his accusations of the railroad and its investors, politicians and businessmen. His information is correctly worded and justified with well-known research. Whites point of view of the transcontinental railroads should be spread and taught around America as an example of our American history being flawed and not always perfect. With his research, credibility and intriguing use of terminology White proves a very much precise, strong point against the production of railroads. “A basic problem of the transcontinentals was that they were built ahead of demand. That a transcontinental railroad might be a good idea in 1900 does not explain building it in the 1860s, 1870s, and 1880s, particularly when the results contributed to two depressions in the 1870s and 1890s and a sharp, if short, economic downturn in the 1880s” (White, Introduction). This statement should be strongly considered by all of Whites audience when reading “Railroaded” and should be remembered for when White expands on this statement for further detail and information throughout his book. This book should be read in order to prevent future, repeated mistakes, such as recessions like