Question

From The Pacific Railway Act, what is the purpose of each section of the act?

A) To request volunteers for railroad construction
B) To give instructions for the use of a telegraph
C) To attempt to establish a set of guidelines to describe a goal unlikely to be realized

Answer 1

The Pacific Railway Act's main purposes were to assist in constructing the transcontinental railroad by granting land and resources to railroad companies, to support westward expansion and internal development, and to strengthen the Union's position during the Civil War. The correct option is A.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sections of the Pacific Railway Act had several purposes. Firstly, to facilitate the movement of settlers to the west by providing federal support to construct a transcontinental railroad, a task given to the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads.

This act provided the railroads with land grants and resources, significantly subsidizing their expansion. Moreover, the law allowed for the sale of these lands to private citizens, which helped finance the railway construction.

Secondly, the act aimed to connect California and other western territories to the rest of the country, hence strengthening the transportation network. Lastly, in the context of the Civil War, these railroads were seen as a way to bolster the Union's position and prevent the expansion of slavery.

To summarize, the Pacific Railway Act was designed to support westward expansion by providing assistance to railroad companies: the act granted large tracts of land and other resources to railroads, sped up the westward movement of settlers, and facilitated internal trade and communication through the growth of rail and telegraph lines. The correct option is A.