Who invented the first computer?

That really depends on the definition of a "computer". The usual story that computer scientists learn in their introductions is Charles Babbage, who devised a "Difference Machine" to count polynomials, which however, was not yet constructed in his time. 

Another "first" was Konrad Zuse's finished in 1938, which was the first programmable computer. 

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.