The West: Mining and Ranching

What did many people seek during the mining and cattle booms of the American West?

• Political power

• Educational opportunities

• Fortunes

• Artistic inspiration

How did mining lead to new settlements in the West?

• By creating job opportunities that attracted people

• By causing conflicts that displaced existing settlements

• By improving the transportation infrastructure only

• By introducing new agricultural techniques

Why did mining become big business?

• Due to the high demand for precious metals

• Because of the discovery of oil

• As a result of government subsidies

• Owing to the decline of agriculture

How and why did the cattle boom come to an end?

• Because of overgrazing and harsh winters

• Due to the invention of the barbed wire

• As a result of the expansion of the railroad

• Owing to the introduction of new livestock breeds

What year did the California Gold Rush begin?

• 1850

• 1849

• 1860

• 1839

What was the main consequence of the California Gold Rush?

• Decline in gold prices

• Massive migration to the West

• Industrialization of California

• Establishment of the Comstock Lode

Where was the Comstock Lode located?

• California

• Nevada

• Colorado

• Arizona

How long did the Comstock Lode produce silver?

• 10 years

• 15 years

• 20 years

• 25 years

How much silver did the Comstock Lode produce?

• $300 million

• $400 million

• $500 million

• $600 million

When was gold found on the Canadian/Alaskan border, sparking the Klondike Gold Rush?

• June 1896

• July 1897

• August 1898

• May 1895