Reasons for Westward Expansion

Land was enabled by ____________________ the passed during the Civil War, giving 160 acres to those who settled the land

• Civil Rights Act

• Homestead Act

• Townshend Act

• Scalawag Act

Technological advances, including the _________________________ helped increase westward expansion.

• Erie Canal

• Ohio River

• Transcontinental Railroad

• Mechanical Reaper

Possibility of obtaining __________, created by the discovery of gold and silver increased westward expansion.

• political power

• wealth

• technology

Possibility of obtaining wealth, created by the discovery of _______and ________ influenced many to move west.

• copper and ore

• iron and tin

• gold and silver

Immigration of workers from __________helped build much of the Transcontinental Railroad.

• China

• England

• Russia

• Spain

Desire for a new beginning for former ________________________ was another reason for the increase in westward expansion.

• Confederate soldiers

• enslaved African Americans

• congressmen

• wealthy plantation owners

Former enslaved African Americans moved west to-

• Work as sharecroppers

• Escape from cyclical poverty and white intimidation and violence

A desire for ______________, such as becoming a cowboy or working on western cattle ranches was another reason to move west.

• adventure

• political power

How long did one have to farm and cultivate the land given to them during the Homestead Act before it would be legally theirs?

• 1 year

• 3 years

• 5 years

• 10 years

True or False?

Westward Expansion was beneficial for both Americans and American Indians.

• True

• False