Popular anger against spain was ignited by

Many things like
.their refusal to allow limited autonomy to Cuba
.the destruction of the U.S. ship, the Maine
.the rising of Spanish rebels in Venezuela 
I hope this helped in some way.   

The transcontinental railroad provided a means of fast transportation. it cut a 6 month trip into 6 days, created jobs for many people and encouraged immigration. the homestead act played a huge role in western expansion; it allowed settlers to begin a fresh start, and gave them land in exchange for their residence for up to five years and a small fee.