6.3 Test Review

Why did many Texas ranchers find it difficult to turn a profit unless beef was shipped out of the state?

• Beef was cheap in Texas because it was so plentiful. People outside Texas were willing to pay more for beef because it was harder to get.

• Beef was expensive in Texas because it was so plentiful. People outside Texas were willing to pay less for beef because it was easier to get.

• Drought in west Texas made farming difficult. People were getting their produce from the north.

Why did the railroad companies want to persuade people to move to West Texas?

• The railroad companies hoped to decrease their business. They already had an abundance of work building railroads in the northern part of the country.

• The railroad companies hoped to increase their business. They knew if farmers and ranchers moved to West Texas, they would need to use the railroads to buy and sell goods and to travel.

• The railroad companies hoped to bring bankers and merchants to west Texas to increase industry and create a modern cosmopolitan society.

How did the Texas legislature feel about the railroads?

• The Texas legislature did not support railroads.

• The Texas legislature supported railroads by offering free boots and hats to railroad companies which helped protect workers from the harsh Texas summers.

• The Texas legislature supported railroads by offering land grants, bonds, tax breaks, and even cash to railroad companies.

How did Texans view the Chinese during the late 1870s?

• Texans appreciated the Chinese as cheap labor, but Chinese railroad workers faced blatant racism.

• Texans didn't appreciate the Chinese because they demanded more money for their time.

• Texans appreciated the Chinese cheap gourmet food, as well as their customs and traditions.

How did the expansion of the railroads set the stage for the modern Texas economy?

• Building the railroads led to population decline for many of the cities in Texas, including Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth.

• Railroads helped grow the industries of ranching and agriculture, which are still major industries in Texas today.

• Railroads did not help make modern Texas.

Based on the flowchart, what main problems prevented railroad companies from laying track in Texas more quickly?

• People were initially skeptical of railroads, and the Civil War left what railroads existed in disrepair.

• People were initially excited about railroads, and the Civil War left what railroads existed in well maintained and frequently used.

• Texas legislature banned the building of railroads until recently.

Why did Texans want railroads in their state?

• They thought it would encourage settlement.

• Shipping goods was slow and expensive.

• Railroad companies offered to buy land at high prices.

• Cowboys refused to ride the cattle trails any longer.

The expansion of the railroads had which of the following effects on the population of Texas?

• The population became more rural and more farms were established.

• The population became more diverse as immigrant workers arrived to build the railroads.

• Factory jobs disappeared as business leaders invested all their money in railroads.

• Population temporarily dipped as reports of widespread railroad corruption spread.

How did the growth of the railroads in the late 1800s affect cattle ranching in Texas?

• Ranchers had to develop new cattle trails.

• The cost of getting cattle to market skyrocketed.

• The price ranchers received for their cattle plunged.

• Ranchers were able to ship their cattle to market by rail efficiently.

Identify a few populations that did not benefit from the expansion of the railroads in Texas.

• The railroads expanded to many cities which did not benefit the population.

• Some farmers moved to East Texas but found it difficult to grow crops because of the dry climate.

• Some farmers moved to West Texas but found it difficult to grow crops because of the dry climate.