Asa Whitney was a merchant who is often credited with being one of the earliest proponents of the idea of building a railroad that would connect the eastern United States with the West Coast. His interest in the idea stemmed from personal experience, making a mass of his fortune in Asia overseas, he recognized the railroads would facilitate trade and transportation, additionally opening vast territories for settlement and development. 1. He claimed it would provide “an iron path” to the far western markets, allowing for the United States to take control over Chinese markets, releasing the English grasp. In 1845 his plan would go beyond conceptualization, as he would present his plan to congress requesting a land grant to fund the project, also including the idea of a railroad…show more content… Despite this, he recognized the strategic importance of connecting the country by rail and saw it as essential to the nation's expansion and prosperity. Similarly, his proposals did not immediately facilitate the construction of the project. Among them all, William Henry Seward, who served as Secretary of State under President Abraham Lincoln and President Andrew Johnson, would develop the most developed plan for the transcontinental railroad. 3. Seward had a vision primarily focused on diplomacy and foreign relations; the development of a transcontinental railroad would prove to be crucial by providing efficient transportation to the Pacific Coast. He believed Pacific trade would be the most contested prize in international affairs, vital for the United States to emerge as the new world power. 4. Unlike previous advocates, his ambitious plans gained traction in the Northern States during the 1850s, the South, on the other hand, still believed that these routes would only benefit the North. It was only when the South began seceding from the Union in 1861 that supporters of the Sewards plan would muster enough votes to be able to bring it to reality.
