Westward Expansion

What caused the growth of boomtowns in the West?

• Loss of prairie grass

• Discovery of large deposits of precious metals

• Building of the transcontinental railroad

• Invention of barbed wire

What was one of the most important duties of cowboys in the Cattle Kingdom?

• Building the transcontinental railroad

• Inventing barbed wire

• Taking care of ranchers' cattle

• Grazing huge herds on public land

Which route was popular for cattle drives in the Cattle Kingdom?

• The Santa Fe Trail

• The California Trail

• The Oregon Trail

• The Chisholm Trail

What brought an end to the Cattle Kingdom on the Great Plains?

• Invention of barbed wire

• Competition

• Building of the transcontinental railroad

• Discovery of large deposits of precious metals

What was a major threat to miners in the mining boom of the West?

• Loss of prairie grass

• Unsafe equipment

• Building of the transcontinental railroad

• Invention of barbed wire