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Becoming More Powerful-The Railroad Years

Soldier laying down with gun next to track
Defending the Railroad

HFC Commissioned Art Collection, by Hugh Brown.  NPS has rights

After the Civil War ended, the nation began to heal and to unify. Railroads built across the continent played a major role in tying the country together. Town leaders of Fort Scott saw a railroad line as a means to build prosperity by tapping into the trade of Eastern markets. By 1869, their efforts succeeded as the first railroad reached the city. As workers laid tracks south of town, they came into conflict with squatters who forcefully opposed the railroad. The military returned and established the Post of Southeast Kansas (1869-73) to protect the railroad workers. This set the stage for a rare instance when U.S. troops took up arms against American citizens to protect the country's business interests.
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Duration:
2 minutes, 4 seconds

Railroad expansion portion of Fort Scott's Movie: Dreams and Dilemmas

Fort Scott National Historic Site

Last updated: August 6, 2024