Pacific Railway Act
The Pacific Railway Act of 1862 was a piece of legislation passed by the United States Congress during the Civil War, providing federal funding for the construction of a transcontinental railroad. The act also established land grants and other incentives to encourage private companies to build railroads connecting the eastern and western portions of the nation. This ambitious project will connect people, goods, and services between both coasts more efficiently than ever before.
The main purpose behind this law was to help unite disparate parts of the nation in order to promote economic growth as well as military security against potential threats from foreign powers like Britain or Russia who had already staked claims on North America's west coast regions. With an eye toward expansionism, President Abraham Lincoln signed into law on July 1st, 1862, what is now known as The Pacific Railway Act, which granted large tracts of public lands along with loans up to $48 million for companies looking to construct railways across states such as California, Oregon, Utah, Nevada and others.