Westward Expansion

The river outlined in Blue.

• Snake River

• Columbia River

• Colorado River

• Mississippi River

The river outlined in Pink.

• Snake River

• Columbia River

• Colorado River

• Mississippi River

Which of the boxes above represents the Rocky Mountains?

• A

• B

• C

What was the main reason people moved westward in the 19th century?

• to find adventure and escape overcrowding

• to have new economic opportunities

• to escape discrimination

• all of the above

Westward Expansion was...

• what happened during the gold rush

• England's movement west to America

• stopped by Native Americans

• the 19th-century movement of settlers into the American West. It began with the Louisiana Purchase and was fueled by the Gold Rush, the Oregon Trail and a belief in "manifest destiny."

The concept of "Manifest Destiny" was used to justify:

• The American Revolution

• The abolition of slavery

• Westward expansion of the United States

• The establishment of the first colonies

Why did many families with little money move west in the mid-1800s?

• There were no taxes

• Western land was cheap

• There were no laws

• The weather was better

What was a common route for pioneers traveling west from Virginia?

• The Santa Fe Trail

• The Wilderness Road

• The Oregon Trail

• The California Trail

How did some Americans reach California during the Gold Rush?

• By sailing around South America

• By sailing around Africa

• By crossing the Atlantic Ocean

• By traveling through Canada

The U.S. government wanted western land for many reasons. What effects did building the railroad have on the Native Americans of the Great Plains?

• Americans took their land by building railroads on the Great Plains.

• The bison, which was their main staple of food, clothing, and shelter, were killed or scared away.

• They were put on reservations, which changed their traditional way of life.

• All of the above