The American Civil War and the Wild West

What was the purpose of the transcontinental railroad?

• To connect the East and West coasts of North America

• To transport goods and people across the Great Plains

• To facilitate the expansion of settlements in the Great Plains

• To provide employment for Civil War veterans

Who were the primary laborers responsible for building the transcontinental railroad?

• Irish immigrants

• Civil War veterans

• Chinese workers

• Railway engineers

What was the biggest obstacle faced by the railroad builders in the Sierra Nevada mountains?

• Snow drifts and avalanches

• Rock excavation

• Lack of funding

• Native American resistance

What was the primary reason for the decline of the buffalo population?

• Disease

• Hunting for their hides

• Natural disasters

• Loss of habitat

What was the impact of the decline of the buffalo population on Native Americans?

• They were forced onto reservations

• They became skilled horsemen

• They started farming instead of hunting

• They migrated to the East coast

What was the primary role of the cowboy in the Wild West?

• To hunt buffalo

• To build railroads

• To drive cattle to the railroad

• To settle new territories

What was the main reason for young men to flock to cattle towns in the West?

• To find work and adventure

• To escape poverty in the South

• To join the military

• To start farming

What was the value of cattle in Texas compared to the East?

• The same

• 10 times higher

• 20 times higher

• 40 times higher

What was the primary reason for the decline of the buffalo population?

• Disease

• Hunting for their hides

• Natural disasters

• Loss of habitat

What was the impact of the decline of the buffalo population on Native Americans?

• They were forced onto reservations

• They became skilled horsemen

• They started farming instead of hunting

• They migrated to the East coast