"There are certain things we can only do together. There are certain things only a union can do. Only a union could harness the courage of our pioneers to settle the American west, which is why [President Abraham Lincoln] passed a Homestead Act giving a tract of land to anyone seeking a stake in our growing economy." - President Barack Obama
Passage of the Homestead Act and of legislation supporting the construction of the
transcontinental railroads demonstrated the federal government's commitment A. to...equality for all immigrants and native Americans

b. limits on big business

c. conservation of natural resources

D. settlement of western territories