Westward Expansion

What geographical obstacles did pioneers face while moving west?

• Mountain ranges, rivers, and deserts

• Sickness or disease

• Fighting with Native Americans

• Bad weather or storms

How did most people travel to the west?

• Boat

• Horseback

• Car

• Covered Wagon

What animal impacted the building of the railroads, and was also essential to the Native Americans way of life?

• Snakes

• Mountain lions

• Bison

• Locusts

How did the transcontinental railroad change the economy of the United States?

• It transported agricultural products to processing centers and helped major industries such as flour milling and meat processing develop in cities like Chicago.

• It transported people to the cities to work in factories.

• It transported Native Americans to the west.

• It transported raw materials to build factories in the west.

What were Boom Towns?

• Towns that were developed when gold and silver was found in a particular place.

• Towns that were abandoned after the gold and silver mines were depleted.

• Towns where dynamite was found

• Towns where loud sounds were often heard.

What invention changed farming and cattle drives during Westward Expansion?

• Steel plow

• Windmills

• Mechanical reaper

• Barbed wire

What two ethnic groups helped to build the transcontinental railroad?

• Mexican Americans and Native Americans

• Irish immigrants and Chinese immigrants

• African Americans and European immigrants

• Scottish immigrants and Japanese immigrants

Which of these was an effect of mining in the West?

• The female population grew as women were recruited to run businesses.

• The population increased greatly as people came hoping to get rich.

• Large mining companies invested in safer mining equipment.

• Large permanent cities developed around the mining camps.

What were serious challenges for the companies building the transcontinental railroad? Select THREE correct answers.

• crossing mountain ranges

• facing snowstorms

• having enough land upon which to lay the tracks

• getting enough funds to pay for construction costs

• getting food and supplies to remote areas

Why do you think people from other countries came to America to work the mines? Check THREE correct answers.

• liked the color of silver

• needed jobs

• thought they could get rich by mining

• to escape poor conditions in their old countries