What was the focus of the Pacific Railway Act?

The Pacific Railway Act, passed in 1862, primarily aimed to encourage the construction of a transcontinental railroad. This legislative act facilitated the expansion of the United States westward by providing federal support, including land grants and loans, to railroad companies tasked with building the railway. The completion of this railroad was seen as crucial for promoting settlement in the West, improving transportation across the country, and fostering economic growth.

By linking the eastern and western parts of the United States, the transcontinental railroad would facilitate the movement of people, goods, and mail, ultimately transforming the nation's economy and its societal landscape. The act not only reinforced the government's commitment to westward expansion but also reflected the belief in Manifest Destiny, the idea that Americans were destined to expand across the continent.

The other options relate to significant issues of the time but do not capture the primary goal of the Pacific Railway Act. Resettling Native Americans involved different policies and acts aimed at managing Indigenous populations in the context of westward expansion. While raising funds for the Civil War was a separate priority requiring financial measures and acts during that era, it wasn't the specific focus of the Pacific Railway Act. Regulating interstate trade would pertain more to commerce and economic regulation than to infrastructure development as