Besides connecting the eastern United States with the western United States, the Transcontinental Railroad was also instrumental in%0D%0AResponses%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AA%09driving a gap through the Confederate territories.driving a gap through the Confederate territories.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AB%09bringing in immigrants from Ireland and China.bringing in immigrants from Ireland and China.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AC%09getting California admitted as a state.getting California admitted as a state.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AD%09ending the Reconstruction Era.