What was the intended purpose of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854?

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 was primarily intended to open up Midwestern lands for farming and facilitate the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. At the time, the idea was to encourage westward expansion by establishing new territories that could be settled and developed. The act proposed the creation of the Kansas and Nebraska territories, which would allow settlers to determine the status of slavery in their regions through popular sovereignty.

This approach not only aimed to promote settlement but also sought to address the economic interests of the North and South. By facilitating the railway connections across these territories, it would boost commerce and trade while providing an essential infrastructure for the growing nation. The emphasis on agricultural development in these vast plains was crucial as it would empower settlers to cultivate the land, aligning with the broader vision of Manifest Destiny during that period.

The other options, while related to the broader context of the period, do not capture the primary purpose of the Kansas-Nebraska Act specifically aimed at land development and railway routing.