American West 1870s-1900

The purpose of the Homestead Act was to develop the West

• True
• False

Which of the following was NOT a qualification to own land for the Homestead Act?

• 21 years old
• Male
• Head of household
• American citizen

What was the largest amount of land one individual could purchase through the Homestead Act?

• 80 acres
• 160 acres
• 200 acres
• 240 acres

How long did settlers have to wait in between filing an affidavit and securing final title to the land one settled?

• 1 year
• 3 years
• 5 years
• 10 years

What is the purpose of the Pacific Railway Act?

• To aid in the construction of Railroads through grants to railroad companies
• Building the railroads through government bonds

Which railroad company hired mostly Irish immigrant and Civil War soldiers?

• Union Pacific

• Central Pacific

Which railroad company used mostly Chinese immigrant workers?

• Central Pacific

• Union Pacific

What was NOT a challenge of building the railroad?

• They had to work fast in dangerous conditions

• They had to blast tunnels through the Sierra Nevadas

• There were few workers because of the Civil War in the U.S.

• The people did not want the railroad to be built.

In what town did the Central Pacific Railroad start?

• Promontory, Utah

• Houston, Texas

• Sacramento, California

• New York City, New York

In what town did the Union Pacific Railroad begin?

• Omaha, Nebraska

• Promontory, Utah

• Topeka, Kansas

• Des Moines, Iowa