Exercise
Pacific Railway Act and Federal Land Grants
Examine how the Pacific Railway Act and federal land grants provided government support and land to aid railroad construction across the United States.
Questions
-
MultiChoice
What was the main purpose of the Pacific Railway Act of 1862?
-
MultiChoice
Which President signed the Pacific Railway Act into law during the Civil War?
-
MultiChoice
How did the federal government primarily assist railroad companies under the Pacific Railway Act?
-
MultiChoice
What pattern was used to distribute public land grants to railroad companies?
-
MultiChoice
Why did Congress prioritize building the transcontinental railroad during the Civil War?
-
MultiChoice
How did railroad companies generate additional cash from federal land grants?
-
MultiChoice
Which two railroad companies were chartered to build the transcontinental line?
-
MultiChoice
Where was the eastern starting point for the Union Pacific Railroad?
-
MultiChoice
Where was the western starting point for the Central Pacific Railroad?
-
MultiChoice
Why did government subsidies per mile vary depending on terrain?
-
MultiChoice
What major concern arose from granting millions of acres to private railroad corporations?
-
MultiChoice
What role did government loans play in the speed of railroad construction?