Chapter 9 - The Last Frontier (SSUSH 12)

SSUSH 12a - How did completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869 encourage the settlement of the American West?

• The railroad led to new discoveries of precious metals

• The railroad required immense quantities of iron and coal to build

• The railroad frightened Indian tribes, who retreated to reservations

• The railroad made it easier for ranchers and farmers to ship goods back East

Answer explanation

The completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869 facilitated the transport of goods, making it easier for ranchers and farmers in the West to ship their products back East, thus encouraging settlement and economic growth.

SSUSH 12b - Which TWO innovations MOST helped pioneer farmers on the Great Plains?

• the use of oxen to pull down trees

• the use of windmills to pump groundwater

• the use of barbed wire to make fences

• the use of logs to build houses

• the use of streams to irrigate crops

Answer explanation

The use of windmills to pump groundwater was crucial for accessing water in the arid Great Plains, while barbed wire allowed farmers to effectively fence their land, protecting crops and livestock from roaming animals.

SSUSH 12c - Which statement BEST describes the result of resistance by the Plains Indians to US settlement of the Great Plains?

• Plains Indian tribes were forced onto reservation lands

• Most of the Plains Indians were killed by settlers

• Americans never adequately explored the Great Plains

• Most Indians were assimilated into mainstream American life

Answer explanation

The resistance of Plains Indians to US settlement led to their forced relocation onto reservation lands, as the government sought to control and assimilate Native populations, making this the best description of the outcome.

SSUSH 12b - Which TWO factors led to the growth in the number of settlers on the Great Plains and in the Far West in the late 19th century?

• rising wheat prices

• the availability of cheap land

• completion of new railroad lines

• the help of friendly Plains Indians

• the use of slave labor to farm the land

Answer explanation

The availability of cheap land attracted many settlers seeking new opportunities, while the completion of new railroad lines facilitated transportation and access to these lands, further encouraging settlement in the Great Plains and Far West.

SSUSH 12c - What was the main purpose of the reservation system?

• to make the new transcontinental railroad safer to operate

• to clear federal lands for settlement by railroads, ranchers, and farmers

• to provide employment for Union troops and veterans after the Civil War

• to make it easier for Indians to assimilate into mainstream American culture

Answer explanation

The main purpose of the reservation system was to make it easier for Indians to assimilate into mainstream American culture by relocating them to designated areas, thereby promoting cultural integration.

SSUSH 12c - Which was a negative aspect of the "Americanization" policy of the late 1880s for American Indians?

• Indians attended reservation schools and learned a trade

• Indians could own and farm 160 acres of their own land

• Indians learned English and could gain the right to vote

• Indians saw the survival of their traditional cultures threatened

Answer explanation

The negative aspect of the "Americanization" policy was that it threatened the survival of traditional cultures among American Indians, as they were pressured to abandon their customs and adopt Western ways.

SSUSH 12c: Use the diagram to answer the question.

Which phrase BEST completes the diagram?

• Indian involvement in the Civil War

• Indian resistance to US expansion westward

• Indian opposition to the transcontinental railroad

• Indian conflicts on reservation lands

Answer explanation

The phrase 'Indian resistance to US expansion westward' best completes the diagram as it highlights the broader context of Native American struggles against westward expansion, which encompasses various conflicts and issues.

SSUSH 12a: Use the diagram below to answer the question.

Which sentence completes the diagram?

• Chinese workers blast their way through the Sierra Nevada Mountains

• Railroad workers go on strike

• The federal government buys up the Central Pacific

• The Union Pacific Railway fails to complete its task

Answer explanation

The sentence "Chinese workers blast their way through the Sierra Nevada Mountains" accurately describes a significant contribution of Chinese laborers in building the transcontinental railroad, completing the diagram effectively.

SSUSH 12a: Use this list to answer the question.

What do the elements in the list describe?

• the Erie Canal

• the Missouri River

• the Pony Express

• the transcontinental railroad

Answer explanation

The elements in the list describe the transcontinental railroad, which connected the eastern and western United States, facilitating transportation and commerce across the country.

SSUSH 12c: Use the excerpt to answer the question.

What circumstances left Chief Joseph to make this statement?

• The United States signed a treaty promising his tribe thousands of acres

• Chief Joseph secretly intended on fighting the United States as long as he lived

• Officers of the US Army had tricked Chief Joseph into surrendering to them

• Chief Joseph decided his tribe had suffered so much he would accept peace at any price

Answer explanation

Chief Joseph's statement reflects his deep concern for his tribe's suffering. He believed that after enduring so much hardship, accepting peace, even at a high cost, was the only viable option for their survival.