Westward Expansion and Transcontinental Railroad

Which of these best describes the Great Plains?

• many lakes surrounded by mountain ranges

• rolling hills of rock and limestone

• thick forests with heavy rainfall

• flatlands that slowly rise from east to west

What was the result in the 1870s of the increased settlement of the Great Plains?

• Native Americans expanded their control over the lands.

• Buffalo herds were nearly wiped out by over-hunting.

• Better resources were found to build and construct shelter.

• Regular rainfall meant more people could farm the land.

How did the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad impact the United States?

• It increased the number of people traveling to the West.

• It decreased the support for industrialization.

• It weakened the economy of the United States.

• It decreased political support for westward expansion.

Which of the following was invented by John Deere and increased productivity for farmers on the Great Plains?

• fertilizers

• the steel plow

• the combine harvester

• pesticides

New technology included the cheap, effective fencing that prevented cattle from roaming. This invention was...

• ...the steel fence.

• ...the wood fence.

• ...barbed wire.

• ...elastic rope.

How did the gold rush affect the population of California?

• the population stayed the same

• the population reduced (got smaller) in size

• the population grew rapidly

• the population grew slowly

Which Railroad Company started building the Transcontinental Railroad in Sacramento, California

• California Pacific Railroad Company

• Union Pacific Railroad Company

• Central Pacific Railroad Company

• Coastal California Railroad Company

What is the name given to the belief that the United States had the right to expand across the North American continent?

• Monroe Doctrine

• Manifest Destiny

• Treaty of Laramie

• Homestead Act

Land reserved for the Native Americans by the United States government.

• prairie land

• reservation

• homestead

• boomtown

What challenge did many American Indian groups face as a result of westward expansion after the Civil War?

• Settlers wanted to join their tribes

• Bison became overpopulated

• Horses were replaced with automobiles

• They were forced from their territory