Final answer:
The First Transcontinental Railroad was built in History to fulfill the desire for a southern transcontinental railroad. It connected Omaha, Nebraska, with Sacramento, California, and drastically reduced travel times to the western United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of the question is History. The desire to build a southern transcontinental railroad led to the creation of the First Transcontinental Railroad. This railroad was financed by an 1864 grant of federal lands to the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads. The two companies built track between Omaha, Nebraska, and Sacramento, California, connecting San Francisco and Oakland to the East and South. The completion of this railroad in 1869 greatly improved travel to the western United States, reducing journey times from months to a week.