Westward Expansion Test

In the late 1800s, where were most of the crowded cities located​?

• East

• West

• Midwest

• South

6. In the late 1800s, most of the people traveling from east to west traveled using _______. 

• 1. Boats on rivers and canals

• 1. Wagons on trails

• 1. cars on paved roads 

• airplane

6. Which geographic features formed obstacles to westward migration?

• 1. Oceans, meadows, hills

• 1. Islands, caverns, valleys

• 1. Mountains, rivers, deserts

• no challenges

6. Which statement describes the journey of a settler traveling west? 

• 1. The journey West was challenging because the settlers had to travel around mountains and rivers. The weather was also very extreme.

• 1. The journey West was easy for the settlers.

• 1. The journey West was enjoyable because the travelers were able to travel via stagecoach. 

• 1. The journey West was difficult because the settlers were traveling by boat.

6. Why were so many African-American ‘Exodusters’ eager to move onto Great Plains?​

• 1. European immigrants forced them away from their homes in the East. 

• 1. They wanted to hunt buffalo. 

• 1. They wanted to help the Native Americans.

• 1. Many had hopes of owning their own land and escaping discrimination. 

6. What was a cause of conflict between ranchers and farmers?​

• 1. Both wanted to make money. 

• 1. Farmers wanted to raise cattle to graze in their pastures. 

• 1. Ranchers drove herds of cattle through farm fields to get cattle to the railroads.

• 1. Both wanted to own huge pieces of land to make their businesses grow.  

6. Why were the pioneers named Sodbusters once they moved to the Plains?

• 1.  They were busting into mountains.

• 1.  They were having a hard time picking grass. 

• 1.  They had a hard time breaking through the sod to plant crops. 

• 1.  They had a hard time using a shovel. 

6. Why were cattle drives profitable for Texas ranchers?

• 1. People paid to watch the cattle drives.

• 1. Railroads paid ranchers to use their services.

• 1. Cattle could be sold for more money in the East.

• 1. Cattle ate the farmer’s crops.

6. What was the main purpose of the Homestead Act? 

• 1. to defeat the Native Americans 

• 1. to provide a market for plows 

• 1. to encourage settlement on the plains

• none

6. Why was the steel plow important to the development of the West?

• 1. The making of the steel plow created many jobs.  

• 1. Steel plows were huge machines that cleared land.  

• 1. The steel plow was not an expensive tool to purchase.  

• 1. The steel plow allowed the planters to dig the hard-packed earth.