Transcontinental Railroad: A railroad line that spanned across the United States, connecting the East Coast with the West Coast. It was largely made possible due to government railroad subsidies.
Land Grants: Tracts of public land given by the government to railroad companies as an incentive for building new rail lines.
Industrialization: The development of industries and manufacturing processes on a large scale. Government railroad subsidies played a significant role in promoting industrialization during this era.