Besides direct loans, what was the most significant incentive the federal government used to promote the building of the national railroad?

Guaranteed profits for ten years.

Offering large plots of public land.

Reduced taxes for all railroad workers.

Free transportation for materials.

Why was it necessary for the federal government to provide help to companies building the transcontinental railroad?

The companies did not have enough workers to complete the job.

The project was too expensive and full of risks for private businesses to handle alone.

State governments refused to allow construction through their territories.

There was no demand for a railroad connecting the East and West coasts.

To sell government-owned land for a large profit.

To create a faster mail delivery system.

To help unite the country and its economy from coast to coast.

To compete with the railroad systems being built in Europe.

To provide land for building stations and worker housing.

To allow companies to raise money by selling the land to settlers.

To create national parks along the railroad route.

To ensure the land could not be claimed by foreign countries.