Settlement of the West Quiz

Where was the Transcontinental Railroad completed?

• Promontory Point, Utah

• Sacramento, California

• Omaha, Nebraska

• Denver, Colorado

What was one of the main reasons for the creation of the Transcontinental Railroad?

• To reduce travel time from coast to coast

• To increase the number of ports on the West Coast

• To connect Canada and Mexico

• To build more cities in the Midwest

Who mainly built the Transcontinental Railroad?

• Chinese immigrants

• Irish immigrants

• Mexican laborers

• Native Americans

What event would start a stampede of prospectors hoping to strike it rich?

• News of a gold strike

• Discovery of oil

• Opening of a new railroad

• Announcement of a new city

What were small frontier towns that transformed into small cities overnight called?

• Boomtowns

• Ghost towns

• Railroad towns

• Mining camps

What happened to boomtowns once the mines were used up?

• They became almost empty and were called "busts"

• They grew into large cities

• They became tourist attractions

• They were converted into farms

How many acres of land could a person claim under the Homestead Act for a small registration fee?

• 50 acres

• 100 acres

• 160 acres

• 200 acres

What was the purpose of barbed wire for farmers?

• To mark property boundaries

• To keep cattle and other animals off their farms

• To decorate their farms

• To support plant growth

What did ranchers and livestock dealers realize about moving their cattle to the railroad?

• It was too expensive

• It could be sold for a huge profit

• It was unnecessary

• It was too dangerous

What equipment helped farmers dig deep water wells and haul water?

• Tractors

• Windmills

• Plows

• Barbed wire