The transcontinental railway intensified sectional tensions in the United States by facilitating the movement of people and goods between the North and the South, which exacerbated competing economic interests. It enabled the rapid settlement of the West, leading to conflicts over whether new territories would be free or slave states, further polarizing the nation. Additionally, the railway's construction favored Northern interests, contributing to Southern resentment and fueling debates over states' rights and federal authority. Ultimately, these tensions played a significant role in the lead-up to the Civil War.