Effects of Westward Expansion

Why were people traveling West?

• Economic opportunities

• For gold

• For free land

• All of the above

Who was already living in the West?

• White people

• Europeans

• Chinese

• Native Americans

Who mainly worked on the railroads?

• Chinese Immigrants

• Chinese and Europeans

• Native Americans

• Pioneers

Working on the railroads was a very dangerous job

• True

• False

The building of the Transcontinental Railroad improved travel and trade to the West by...

• helping immigrants in other countries

• making travel possible for all people

• giving Native Americans a way to travel

• making travel possible for all people as well as transporting goods and other products from east to west

Where were Native Americans forced to move to?

• The East

• California

• Colorado

• Reservations

What effects did the building of the railroad have on the Native Americans of the Great Plains?

• Americans took their land by building railroads on the Great Plains.

• The buffalo, which was their main source of food, clothing, and shelter, were killed.

• They were put on reservations which altered, or changed, their traditional way of life.

• All of the above

How did the transcontinental railroad affect the wild bison herds in the west?

• The bison herds were afraid of the rails.

• The railroads cleared grazing land for the bison.

• It resulted in the end of the free-roaming buffalo in the west.

• The transcontinental railroad assisted with the growth of the bison population.

Why was the construction of the railroad system in the United States beneficial to people of all regions?

• It made the west look beautiful.

• People were proud of the railroad system.

• Railroad systems in the United States were well managed.

• It was a faster way to move people, mail, and goods across the United States.

How were some immigrant groups discriminated against?

• They were given poor soil.

• They were sent to reservations.

• They were treated as well as everyone.

• They were paid less for the same work as white workers.