History of the Canadian Pacific Railroad If the railroad had not been built at the time that it was, the Americans instead of Canadians would have capitalized on the vaste wealth of the prairies.

During the wheat boom in the later half of the 19th century the railroad played an integral part in the formation of Canada as a nation, and gave the Canadian economy it's first push in the international market place. The railroad was the key factor in connecting the western part of the country with the east and central parts. If construction of the Canadian Pacific Railroad had not happened at the time it did would …

…frontier forward or used its massive capital to build the railroad and profit themselves instead of Canadians. By Building the Railroad Canada secured its economic, social and political development for years to come. If the Railroad Company were to fail it would have cost Canada its status as a world power today. This is why the Government was forced in years to come to nationalize the C.P.R due to massive debt and mismanagement.