What significant purchase was made to facilitate the building of a transcontinental railroad?

The Gadsden Purchase was a significant acquisition made in 1853, specifically aimed at facilitating the construction of a transcontinental railroad. This land acquisition involved the United States buying a portion of land from Mexico, covering parts of present-day southern New Mexico and Arizona. The land gained through the Gadsden Purchase was considered ideal for building a southern route for the railroad, as it provided the necessary terrain that would support the expansion westward.

While the Louisiana Purchase and Texas Annexation were monumental events that expanded U.S. territory, they were not specifically tied to the construction of the transcontinental railroad. The California Gold Rush, though pivotal in encouraging westward migration and economic growth, did not directly contribute to the railroad's route planning or construction related to the Gadsden Purchase.