Westward Expansion Quiz

Which is the BEST statement that describes how ranchers and cowboys cooperated with one another during the time of expanding to the west?

• Cowboys competed with ranchers to see who could drive the biggest herds of cattle to cow towns.

• Cowboys drove herds of cattle, owned by ranchers, across the open plains to towns with a railroad station.

  
  

• Cowboys often stole ranchers’ cattle in order to make a better living for themselves.

  
  

• Ranchers depended on cowboys to keep buffalo from wandering into their herds and causing stampedes.

  
  

Which would be the BEST explanation as to why Mexican Americans had conflicts with settlers and ranchers who moved into the southwestern area of the United States?

• Native Americans forced Mexican Americans off their land in order to establish cattle ranches.

• Mexican Americans competed with miners who needed their land in order to find gold and other precious minerals.

• The transcontinental railroad separated the Mexican American’s land.

• Many Mexican Americans faced discrimination and lost their land to American citizens after the Mexican War.

Cowboys and farmers were often in conflict. What was the main reason for this conflict?

• They mostly fought over how the western lands should be used and who should use them. 

  
  

• Cowboys wanted to build fences with barbed wire, but farmers wanted the land to be left open with no obstructions.

  
  

• They both wanted to be responsible for leading cattle drives across the plains to railway stations.

  
  

• None of these.

  
  

The discovery of gold and silver brought men westward seeking their fortunes. Which groups were NOT in conflict over finding precious metals?

• Miners against other miners

• Miners and mining companies

• Mining companies and land owners

• Land owners and ranchers

Which BEST describes the relationship between Native Americans and settlers?

• They taught different skills and cooperated with each other.

• They didn’t force each other to change.

• They forced Native Americans onto reservations and to become farmers.

• None of these.

Which of the following people were included as pioneers, or early settlers to the American West?

• Farmers

• Miners

• Rangers

• All of these

Which group is being described?

They competed with prospectors, people who mined in the hills for precious metals (iron, copper, silver, etc.) and panned for gold in rivers and streams before the big mining companies came and took over. The mining companies had the equipment to go deeper underground.

• Miners

• Cowboys

• Native Americans

• Ranchers

• Chinese Immigrants

Which group is being described?

This group worked with cowboys to develop the cattle raising industry. They owned the herds of cattle. Conflicts arose with farmers when they put up barbed wire, as it interfered with the open range.

• Miners

• Cowboys

• Native Americans

• Ranchers

• Chinese Immigrants

Which group is being described?

This group drove the herds of cattle across the open plains to the railroad depot and shipped them to processing plants. They had conflicts with the townspeople they came into contact with.

• Miners

• Cowboys

• Native Americans

• Ranchers

• Chinese Immigrants

Which group is being described?

They were discriminated against by white workers, paid less, and laid rails from West to East. Once the rails were complete, they competed for jobs in the mining industries. Eventually, a law was passed to exclude Chinese immigrants to the U.S.

• Miners

• Cowboys

• Native Americans

• Ranchers

• Chinese Immigrants