On this day, May 10, in 1869

On this day, May 10, in 1869, the ‘Golden Spike’ was driven into place at Promontory Point, Utah, completing the first American Transcontinental Railroad that stretched from coast to coast with over 2000 miles of track. The railroad functioned as a glorified symbol of Western Expansion and disguised the exploitation and violent conquest that occurred during its construction. Chinese laborers were paid the lowest wages, suffered constant abuse, and were assigned the most dangerous jobs, where many died. The railroad companies responded to Native American resistance in the Great Plains region by killing off their main food supply, buffalo. Maybe a better name would be the Bloody Spike.