TeamName:

S2

TEMNA
Ella,Iris,Dan,Andrea,Andrew,Casey,andMarie

CompellingQuestion:
HowdidChineseworkersimpactthebuildingoftheUSeconomyviathe
transcontinentalrailroad,andhowcanUSandChinesehumancapitalimpactthedevelopmentofthe
globalizedeconomytoday?

StudentsResearchingClaim#1
:
DanHagertyandAndrewBagwell

Claim1:ChineseworkerspositivelyimpactedtheUSeconomybybeingessentialinthebuildingofthe
transcontinentalrailroad

EvidenceandReasoning:
WhyWereChineseLaborersEssential?:Attitude,WorkEthic,Lifestyle
1.TheChineseworkerswerepunctual,willing,andwellbehaved
2."Whereverweputthem,wefoundthemgood,"Crockerrecalled,"andtheyworkedthemselvesintoourfavor
tosuchanextentthatifwefoundwewereinahurryforajobofwork,itwasbettertoputChineseonatonce."
3.Theirworkethicimpressedhim,andhehiredmoreChineseworkersformoredifficulttasks.
4.Theybathedthemselves,washedtheirclothes,stayedawayfromwhiskey.Insteadofwatertheydrank
lukewarmtea,boiledinthemorningsanddispensedtothemthroughouttheday.Insuchamannerthey
avoidedthedysenterythatravagedwhitecrews.

WHYwereChineselaborersessential?:SkillLevel
1.Theyarefaithfulandindustriousand,underpropersupervision,soonbecomeskillfulintheperformanceof
theirduty.Manyofthemarebecomingveryexpertindrilling,blastingandotherdepartmentsofrockwork.

2.Chineseworkersevenhelpedlayarecordtenmilesoftrackinjusttwelvehours,shortlybeforetherailroad
wascompleted.

3.ConstructionSuperintendentStrobridgeandtheactingchiefengineer,SamuelS.Montague,marveledin
late1865athowquicklyChineseworkersbecameskillfulintheperformanceoftheirduty.Manyofthemare
becomingveryexpertindrilling,blasting,andotherdepartmentsofrockwork

WHYwereChineselaborersessential?:LaborShortage
1.ButwhentheCentralPacificbeganlayingtracksin1865,whitelaborwasscarceandunreliable.
2.frustratedatthelackofmanpowernecessarytosupporttherailroad,Crockersuggestedtohisworkboss,
JamesStrobridge,thattheyhireChineselaborers.
3.Itbecameapparentearlyintheseasonthattheamountoflaborlikelytoberequiredduringthesummer
couldonlybesuppliedbyemploymentoftheChineseelementinourpopulation.

4.inthe1860stheCentralPacificRailroad,facingtheruggedterrainofCaliforniasSierraNevadaandthe
scarcityofreliablelabor,madelittleprogressonthewesternendoftherailroadline,untiltheyhiredChinese
workers

HOWDidtheTranscontinentalRailroadRevolutionizetheUSEconomy?
1.Travelforcitizenswasnowlesscostly,faster,andnotlimitedbyseason,meaningthatmany
Americansnowmovedwest,openingnewbusinessesandprofitingfromthelandthatwaseither
unusedortakenfromNativeAmericans.

Costoftraveldroppedfromcoasttocoastdroppedfrom$1,000to$150(history.com)

Traveltimecutfrom6monthsviaharshterrain(orlongerbygoingbelowArgentina)toasafeweek
(railroadlindhall)

Therailroadensuredaproductionboom,asindustrynowminedthenewlyaccessiblemiddleandwestern
partsofthecountry(pbs)

Thetranscontinentalrailroadtriggeredamassmigrationtothegreatplains,andfarmersandcowboys
werethenexttotrytotamethewilderness.(history.co.uk)

2.Transportationimprovementsalsomeantthatmoregoodswereshippedtodifferentplacesacross
thecountry,openingnewmarketsfordomesticgoods,andforeigngoodsbyconnectingportsonthe
EastandWestcoasts.

Within10yearsofcompletion,railroadshipped$50millionworthoffreightfromcoasttocoasteveryyear.
(pbs)

TherailroadopenedthemarketsofCaliforniaandAsiatocitizensontheEastcoast,andopenedmarkets
ofEastcoastandEuropetocitizensoftheWest(pbs)

Booksandideascouldnowspreadrapidlyfromeasttowestcoast,creatinganexpandedmarketfor
intellectualism,innovation,andentrepreneurship(pbs).

Oncerefrigeratedcarsbeganbeingusedinthe1880s,fruitsfromthemoretemperatewestcoastcouldbe
soldtofamiliesduringthewintermonthstofamiliesontheeastcoast.Perishablecargoescouldtravelin
insulatedcarsthatprotectedthemfromtheheatofsummerandchillofwinter,eliminatingweatherasafactor
intheshipmentoffood.(historynet.comCarlosA.Schwantes,HowRailroadstookthewildoutoftheWest.

3.ThecompletionoftheTCRRmeantthatnow25,000Chinese(12K14K)andIrishimmigrantworkers
werenowunemployed,floodingthelabormarket,leadingtoxenophobiaandracism

Uponcompletion,therewere25,000immigrantworkerswhosuddenlybecameunemployedandflooded
thelabormarket,1214,000ofthembeingChinese.Thisledtoracismandxenophobia,particularlyduringthe
economicdepressionofthe1880s.In1882,theChineseExclusionActwaspassed,officiallyceasingall
ChineseimmigrationtotheUnitedStates.(history.co.uk)

Duringhardeconomictimesandjobscarcity,peopleoftenliketopointfingers.Inthiscase,fingerswere
pointedatChineseimmigrants.

"IfAmericawasnowacontinentalnation...itwastheChinesewhohadmadeitso...Andinsteadofthanks
whattheygotwasthesmelloftheirChinatownsburningtotheground"

SimonSchama(history.co.uk)

Depressionof18821885happenedbecauseoftheslowofrailroadbuildingaftertheboomfrom7982.
Becauseofthis,relatedindustries,particularlyironandsteel,slowedproduction.Businessactivitynationwide
droppedby33%

StudentsResearchingClaim#2:
IrisHe&CaseyMedlock

Claim2:
USandChinesehumancapitalstronglyinfluencetheeconomiesofdevelopingcountries.Aparticularly
influentialwaythattheUSandChinadothisisthroughthehumanandfinancialcapitalassociatedwithforeign
aid.

EvidenceandReasoning:
ForeignAidandChina

TheChinesegovernmentdoesnotyethaveoneformalaidorganizationChineseaidtodeveloping
countriestakesplacethroughvariedmeans,suchastheSilkRoadFund,AsianInfrastructureInvestment
Bank(AIIB),andAsianDevelopmentBank.
ImprovingInfrastructure
Chineseengineers,equipment,andfinanceshelpedbuildthethirdsectionoftheSikaHighway
thatconnectsKenyascapitalNairobitoitseconomichubSika,thusmakingacontributiontothe
roadnetworkthatlinksKenya,Ethiopia,andTanzania.
Education
AgricultureInatechnicalcooperationprogram,Chineseexpertstaught500Liberianstoweave
bambooandrattanintomarketableproducts.Thisprogramhasnotonlycreatedjobs,broughtthe
localsmoreincome,andliftedthemoutofpoverty,butalsoboostedthebambooandrattan
industryinthecountry.
Agriculture
VolunteerexpertstoEthiopiaimprovedtheplantingmethodformelons,andlocalfruitfarmers
harvestedmuchmorethanusualthatyearthevolunteersalsotaughtthelocalstobuildbiogas
pitssothattheycouldusecleanenergymoreefficiently.

ForeignAidandtheUSA
TheUnitedStatesdirectsforeignaidtocountriesthroughouttheworldprimarilyundertheauspicesof
UnitedStatesAgencyforInternationalDevelopment(USAID).
ImprovingInfrastructure
WithUSAIDsassistance,AfghanistansnewlycommercializednationalelectriccompanyinKabul
hasreducedelectricitylossfrom60%toabout35%,improvingthelongtermsustainabilityand
reliabilityofthesystemforitscustomers.
Education
USAIDworkstoensuremaximumimpactandlongtermsustainabilityofitsdevelopmentprograms
byprovidingpeopleinthecountriestheyworkinwiththeskillsandknowledgecriticaltothe
achievementofcountrydevelopmentgoals.In2011,USAIDhelpedtrainovertwomillionpeople.
AspartoftheirLetGirlsLearnInitiative,theyhelpedtrainover300,000teachersworldwide.
Agriculture
ThroughFeedtheFuture,theU.S.Governmentcontributestothisglobaleffort,workinghandin
handwithpartnercountriestodeveloptheiragriculturesectorsandimproveglobalfoodsecurity.
Lastyear,FeedtheFuturehelpedmorethan7millionsmallholderfarmersaccessnewtoolsand
technologiestohelpthemimproveyieldsandboostincomes.

China/USAcollaborationandForeignAid
AsChinasroleindevelopmentcooperationgrows,theU.S.AgencyforInternationalDevelopment
(USAID)isindiscussionwithrelevantChinesegovernmentandnongovernmentalentitiestodevelopa
closerworkingrelationshipexplorecollaborativemechanismstojointlytacklewithglobaldevelopment
challenges.Tomeetthisgoal,in2008USAIDcreatedaDevelopmentCounselorpositionattheU.S.
EmbassyinBeijingtobetterunderstandChinasforeignassistancestructureandestablishaworking
relationshipwithkeyChineseentitiesresponsibleforimplementingitsforeignassistanceprograms.
WorkingcloselywithChinesegovernmentagencies,universitiesandresearchinstitutes,USAIDis
strengtheningitscooperationwithChinaonhealth,environment,disastermitigationandtrilateral
collaborationwithotherdevelopingcountries.

AtthisyearsASEANRegionalForum,thetwocountriespledgedtoenhanceandinitiatecollaborative
effortsintheregion,includingintheareasofscienceandtechnology,climatechange,disasterwarning
andresponse,energypolicy,forestmanagement,fisheriesmanagement,diseasedetectionandcontrol,
andwildlifeprotectionandconservation.Recentaccomplishmentsinclude,butarenotlimitedto:disaster
relief,energypolicy,anddiseasedetectionandmanagement.
Chinese/USaidcooperationisextremelyimportanttoourglobalfuture.
Existingmechanismsbetweenthe
UnitedStatesandChinamustcontinuetoresolvedisputes,butresolvingcurrentissuesmustnotbea
prerequisitefortacklinglongertermchallenges.Cooperationonlongertermchallengesistooimportantto
thepeopleofbothcountries,indeedofallcountries,todelayworkonthem.Goingbeyondthecurrent
shortterm,tacticalfocusofUSChinadialogueswillrequiresustainedcommitmentofleadersinboth
countries.

StudentsResearchingClaim#3:
EllaHu&AndreaGambino

Claim3:
AmericanandChinesecompaniesarevitalindevelopingglobaltechnologyindustries.
EvidenceandReasoning:
AmericanandChinesecompaniesarevitalindevelopingglobaltechnologyindustries.Anoutstanding
internationalcompanythatisrevolutionizingtheeconomyisAppleparticularlyinproductcreationandby
creatingaglobalmarketplaceforappsharing.Appleservesasacollaborativeproductcreator.Keyarchitectsin
Cupertino,CaliforniafocusedonthedesignoftheiPhone6.Thiscollaborationisahugefactorinproductionof
Appleproducts.Intellectualcapitalisanimportantaspectofthiscompany.Currently,manyengineersinChina
havethehardskillsneededtobeabletoproblemsolvetechnicalissuesofAppleproducts.Intellectualcapital
continuestocontributetothesustainablejobcreationanddevelopmentofengineersforthiscompanyinboththe
U.S.andinChina.AppleisalsoleadingtheglobalmarketplacethroughtheAppStorePlatform.Thisplatform
servesasahubforappcreatorsfromallovertheworldtoreleasetheirapplicationsbothforprofitandforfree.
ThistransformativeplatforminspiredtheAndroidMarketknownasGooglePlay.Technologicaldevelopmentvia
appcreationcanprovideanewtechnologicalavenuefordigitalshopping,educationalsharing,andcreatesan
outstandingmarketplacetotransformhowweteach,learn,consumeinformation,andengagewithdigitalcontent.
WithouttheinternationalcollaborationbetweentheU.S.andChinathiscompanywouldloseatremendous
amountofmoney(approximately4.2billiondollarsannually,[TimWorstall,Forbes,2014]).Applewillcontinue
toinfluencethewaywecommunicateandthewaywelive.

Conclusion:
Basedonourresearchandsynthesis,

therearethreemajorareasforfuturepolicycooperation
concerningtheissueofinternationallabortoimprovetheglobaleconomyandmaketheworldabetterplace.
1. protectingworkersrights
globalminimumwage
childlaborlaws
antidiscriminationlawsforinternationalworkers
2.breakingdowninternationalbarriers

developacentralized,streamlinewebsiteforinternationalworkerstopursueglobalemployment
opportunitiesandforcompanieslookingtohireinternationaltalent

3.maximizebenefitsforglobalsocieties

creategovernmentandprivatepartnershipstoidentifynationalandinternationalneeds

attractandhireskilledinternationalworkerstomeetthoseneeds

References

CLAIM1:ChineseworkersimprovedtheUSeconomybybeingessentialtothebuildingofthe
transcontinentalrailroad

(n.d.).RetrievedJuly22,2015,fromucpresswebsite:
http://www.ucpress.edu/content/chapters/10306.excerpt.pdf

(n.d.).RetrievedJuly22,2015,fromPBSwebsite:
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Heath,"TrailtoRail,"S.P.B.,XV,Chap.XV,p.12.SeealsoJohnDeboGalloway,TheFirstTranscontinental
Railroad:CentralPacific,UnionPacific(NewYork,1950),144,andRobertF.G.Spier,"FoodHabitsof
NineteenthCenturyCaliforniaChinese,"CaliforniaHistoricalSocietyQuarterly,XXXVII(No.1and2,1958),
7984,12936.

Montague,S.S.(1865).RetrievedJuly21,2015,from
http://cprr.org/Museum/Chinese_Laborers.html#China_Labour

(n.d.).RetrievedJuly22,2015,fromStanfordwebsite:
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abor_Voss.pdf

TheTranscontinentalRailroad
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(2014).RetrievedJuly21,2015fromHistoryChannelUKat
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history.comstaff.(2010).RetrievedJuly21,2015fromHistoryChannelWebsiteat
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Schwantes,C.A.(year).HowRailroadstooktheWildoutoftheWest.RetrievedJuly21,2015from
http://www.historynet.com/transcontinentalrailroad
.

Claim2:USandChinesehumancapitalstronglyinfluencetheeconomiesofdevelopingcountries.


Areddy,J.T.(2014,July10).Chinatouts$14.4billioninforeignaid,halfofwhichwenttoAfrica.
TheWallStreet
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Authorizedrelease:China'sforeignaid.(2014,July10).
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Brant,P.(2014,July10).China'sforeignaidwhitepaper:Quickoverview.
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China'sforeignaidhelpsdevelopingcountries.(2014,July11).
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ChinaUScooperation:Keytotheglobalfuture.
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Councilwebsite:
http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/publications/reports/chinauscooperationkeytotheglobalfuture

Economicgrowthandtradeinfrastructure
.(2012,July26).RetrievedJuly22,2015,fromUSAIDwebsite:
http://www.usaid.gov/whatwedo/economicgrowthandtrade/infrastructure

Sustainingfeedthefutureprogress
.(2015,May12).RetrievedJuly22,2015,fromUSAIDwebsite:
http://www.usaid.gov/sustainingftfprogress

U.S.ChinacooperationintheAsiaPacificregion.
(2012,July12).RetrievedJuly22,2015,fromU.S.
DepartmentofStatewebsite:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/07/194891.htm

USAIDmission
.(n.d.).RetrievedJuly22,2015,fromEmbassyoftheUnitedStatesBeijing,Chinawebsite:
http://beijing.usembassychina.org.cn/usaid.html

Wolf,C.(2014,July6).China'sforeignaidoffensive.
TheWeeklyStandard.
Retrievedfrom
http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/chinasforeignaidoffensive_978676.html

Claim3:
AmericanandChinesecompaniesarevitalindevelopingglobaltechnologyindustries.

AppleIs0.5%OfUSGDP,0.15%OfGlobalGDP.
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website:
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AppleJobCreation.
(n.d.).RetrievedJuly20,20,from
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Apple'sInternationalStructure.
(2013,May21).RetrievedJuly21,2015,fromNewYorkTimes
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s&_r=0

How&WhereiPhoneIsMade:ComparisonOfApplesManufacturingProcess
.(2014,September17).Retrieved
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http://comparecamp.com/howwhereiphoneismadecomparisonofapplesmanufacturingprocess/

Suttmeier,R.P.(2014,September11).TrendsinU.S.ChinaScienceandTechnologyCooperation:


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U.S.ChinaEconomicandSecurityReview
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TenWaysApplehasChangedtheTechnologyWorld.
(n.d.).RetrievedJuly22,2015,fromDigitalTrikewebsite:
http://www.digitaltrike.com/10waysapplehaschangedthetechnologyworld/

Worstall,T.(2013,September25).
Forbes.
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