The history of the United States of America is the foundation of the world we live in today. As George Santayana once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Knowing our country's history and how it has helped shape us is vital to progress. The great country we live in did not come together overnight; it took many years of trial and error to get it right and we are still learning. There are many important events that shaped our country, including the first transcontinental railroad, the railroad workers' strike of 1877, the Niagara Movement, the annexation of Hawaii, and the creation of the Federal Reserve System. The first transcontinental railroad paved the way for advancements in modes of transportation. Previously, trains only connected nearby cities, especially in the East. Furthermore, traveling by train was dangerous as there was no standard signal system. Construction of the railroad began in 1862 and did not finish until 1869. By this time, there were tracks from the East Coast to the Mississippi River and new tracks needed to be built between Nebraska and California. Since the project was too large for most private investors, government involvement was crucial. For this reason, the federal government made loans and land grants to two private companies: the Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad. The majority of workers in the union were Irish immigrants while most of the central workers were Chinese immigrants. Since the Chinese were considered an inferior race, they received lower pay. Eventually they went on strike and got a small raise. The construction of the railway required not only workers, but blacksmiths, carpenters, engineers, bricklayers, surveyors and cooks. Finally, after years... mid-paper... achieving some civil rights victories, the movement suffered from lack of funding and personnel and was never able to attract enough support. The movement was disbanded in 1911. Although this movement did not achieve much success, many of its members helped found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) which was much more successful. This interracial organization, founded in 1909, is still intact today and helped pave the way for many African Americans, like me. Works Cited Cayton, Andrew, Linda Reed, et al. America: Paths to the Present. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2002. 155-299. Print."The First Transcontinental Railroad." The first transcontinental railroad. Np, nd Web. 03 Dec 2"The First Transcontinental Railroad." The first transcontinental railroad. Np, nd Web. 03 December. 2013.013.