Question

What contributed to the decision by US leaders to pass the Pacific Railway Act of 1862?

A.
the rapid settlement of the American West

B.
conflict between settlers and American Indians

C.
British efforts to cut off access to trade with Europe

D.
high rates of unemployment among recent immigrants

Answer 1

Your answer should be ‘the rapid settlement of the American West’, since according to senate.gov, it reads ‘ | The rapid settlement of the western territories | in the 1850s convinced most members of Congress of the need for efficient rail transport to the Pacific coast,’.