Plotting the Transcontinental Railroad by Coordinates

Start with a plotting sheet such as Civil War Cities, which has two places plotted as models. Move to degrees and minutes and the distance sheet once decimal degrees are comfortable.

Plot Union Pacific and Central Pacific stops by coordinates and find where the lines met in 1869. The directions on the page read: Plot each stop as a dot and write its name. Connect the Union Pacific stops in table order with a solid line and the Central Pacific stops with a dashed line. Then answer the questions. An answer key is included.

Yes, both. We made it for 8th grade Map Skills and Coordinates, and it works the same at home or at school. At home, a student can work through it alone and then go over it with you, which shows quickly what is solid and what needs another look. In class it works as independent practice, homework or a warm-up, and you can print one copy or a full set.

The Union Pacific, built west from Omaha, and the Central Pacific, built east from Sacramento, met at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory, on May 10, 1869. The sheet plots each line's stops by coordinates.

It was the Missouri Compromise line of 1820. Slavery was barred north of it in the rest of the Louisiana Purchase, except in Missouri.

The map shows the 13 states, western land claimed by some states, Spanish Louisiana and Florida and British Canada. Students name the numbered states and features such as the 31st parallel.