Which economic factor addressed by the push for a national railway to connect colonies?

• A. End of reciprocity with the United States
• B. Need for railway to improve trade between colonies
• C. End of free trade with Britain
• D. Trade barriers between colonies

Answer: (B)

The main idea is economic integration through a stronger intercolonial market. Building a national railway was seen as a way to knit the colonies together so goods, people, and capital could move more easily across long distances. By connecting Atlantic Canada to Ontario and beyond, the railway would lower transport costs, speed up trade, and open larger markets for farmers and manufacturers, making the economy more cohesive and resilient. This direct goal of improving trade between the colonies best captures why the railway was pursued. While changes in trade policy with the United States or Britain mattered, and while removing barriers between colonies would help, the core motivation was to create a more integrated internal market by linking the colonies with a railroad.