a) Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was instrumental in signing the Pacific Railway Act into law in 1862. This act was crucial for the development of a transcontinental railroad that connected the East and West coasts. Lincoln’s support for the railroad was part of his broader vision for the United States, seeing it as a means to bind the nation together, especially during the tumultuous times of the Civil War. The completion of the transcontinental railroad was a monumental achievement in American history, facilitating trade, migration, and the overall unification of the country.