APUSH 6.3 ~ Westward Expansion: Social and Cultural Development

Analyze the impact of the Homestead Act and the completion of the transcontinental railroads on westward migration. How did these factors contribute to the settlement of the American frontier?

• They discouraged migration by making land acquisition more difficult.

• They facilitated migration by providing land and transportation, encouraging settlement.

• They had no significant impact on migration patterns.

• They only benefited railroad companies and had little effect on settlers.

Evaluate the role of the cattle industry and the image of the cowboy in shaping American culture during the frontier era. What were the long-term effects of this cultural development?

• The cattle industry had no cultural impact and was purely economic.

• The romanticized image of the cowboy became a lasting symbol of American independence and adventure.

• The cattle industry led to the decline of American cultural identity.

• The cowboy image was quickly forgotten after the introduction of barbed wire.

Discuss the significance of the introduction of barbed wire fencing on the cattle industry and the era of the cowboy. How did this innovation change the landscape of the American West?

• It had no effect on the cattle industry or cowboy culture.

• It ended open cattle drives and marked the decline of the cowboy era.

• It increased the need for cowboys and expanded cattle drives.

• It was primarily used for farming and had little impact on cattle ranching.

Analyze the challenges faced by homesteaders, known as "sodbusters," in the Great Plains. How did these challenges influence the development of agriculture in the region?

• Sodbusters faced no significant challenges and easily prospered.

• The hard, dry soil made farming difficult, leading to innovations in agricultural techniques.

• Sodbusters had abundant resources and faced no agricultural difficulties.

• The challenges led to the abandonment of farming in the Great Plains.

Evaluate the impact of the U.S. Census Bureau's declaration of the frontier as settled in 1890. How did this declaration influence American society and policy?

• It had no impact on American society or policy.

• It led to increased exploration and expansion beyond the continental U.S.

• It marked the end of westward expansion and prompted a shift in national focus.

• It resulted in the immediate closure of all western territories to settlement.

Discuss Frederick Jackson Turner's "Frontier Thesis" and its implications for American identity. How did Turner view the closing of the frontier?

• Turner believed the closing of the frontier had no effect on American identity.

• Turner argued that the frontier was essential to American uniqueness and its closure could lead to societal conflicts.

• Turner saw the closing of the frontier as a positive step towards modernization.

• Turner thought the frontier was irrelevant to American development.

Analyze the effects of the reservation system on Native American communities. How did this system alter their traditional ways of life?

• The reservation system had no impact on Native American communities.

• It preserved Native American cultures and traditions.

• It restricted their nomadic lifestyle and led to cultural and economic disruption.

• It allowed Native Americans to thrive independently.

Evaluate the consequences of the Indian Appropriation Act of 1871 on Native American sovereignty. How did this legislation affect U.S.-Native American relations?

• It strengthened Native American sovereignty and improved relations.

• It ended federal recognition of Indian sovereignty, leading to increased conflict.

• It had no effect on Native American sovereignty or relations.

• It resulted in peaceful coexistence between Native Americans and settlers.

Discuss the goals and outcomes of the Dawes Act of 1887. How did this act attempt to assimilate Native Americans into American society?

• The Dawes Act aimed to preserve Native American cultures and traditions.

• It divided reservation lands into individual plots to promote farming and assimilation.

• It had no impact on Native American assimilation efforts.

• It encouraged Native Americans to maintain their traditional lifestyles.

Analyze the significance of the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890. How did this event mark the end of Native American resistance?

• The massacre had no significance and did not affect Native American resistance.

• It marked the end of organized Native American resistance and symbolized the suppression of their culture.

• It led to a resurgence of Native American resistance and independence.

• It was a minor event with little historical impact.