Wealth and the Wild West

What was a major reason people moved west in the 1800s?

• To visit family

• To learn new languages

• To find gold and wealth

• To escape the cold weather

What was the Homestead Act of 1862 designed to do?

• Provide free education

• Encourage settlement by offering cheap land

• Create new jobs in cities

• Build new schools

What was the main purpose of the Erie Canal?

• To serve as a tourist attraction

• To transport gold from California

• To connect California to the East Coast

• To provide a water link between Lake Erie and New York

Why did many Irish immigrants come to America in the 1840s?

• To escape a famine

• To find new jobs

• To join the gold rush

• To visit family

What was the impact of the California Gold Rush on General John Sutter?

• It helped him expand his mill

• It ruined his business

• It allowed him to buy more land

• It made him very wealthy

What was a 'coffin ship'?

• A ship that carried coffins

• A ship used for fishing

• A ship packed tightly with immigrants

• A ship used to transport gold

What did the term 'Manifest Destiny' refer to?

• The plan to create more jobs

• The idea of building more schools

• The strategy to improve transportation

• The belief in expanding the U.S. from sea to sea

What was a major effect of the new transportation methods in the 1800s?

• They were only used for transporting goods

• They made travel cheaper and faster

• They slowed down migration

• They made travel more expensive

Why did many people decide to settle in California even if they didn't find gold?

• Because of its proximity to Europe

• Because of its cold climate

• Because of its fine farmlands

• Because of its large cities

What was a major business in the 1860s due to the need for timber?

• Mining

• Logging

• Fishing

• Farming