Westward Expansion (SOL PASS STUDY GUIDE) Grade 7

Which of the following was a challenge faced by settlers on the Great Plains?

• Hot summers, cold winters, and little rainfall

• Frequent earthquakes and volcanoes

• Dense forests and heavy rainfall

• High mountains and deep valleys

What was the main purpose of barbed wire for settlers in the West?

• To fence land without using wood

• To cut through tough soil

• To pump underground water

• To build houses from grass and dirt

Which technological adaptation helped settlers pump underground water for crops and animals?

• Windmills

• Steel plows

• Barbed wire

• Sod houses

How did the invention of the steel plow help settlers adapt to the Great Plains?

• It cut through sod and tough soil, making farming easier

• It provided water for crops and animals

• It fenced land without using wood

• It built houses from grass and dirt

Why did fertile plains attract farmers to the West?

• Because the land was good for growing crops

• Because the land was covered in forests

• Because the land had many mountains

• Because the land was full of rivers

All of these were motivations for moving west EXCEPT -

• Land Ownership

• Adventure and Freedom

• Immigration and jobs

• Learning how to hunt with Native Americans

The geography of the United States shaped westward movement in the following ways EXCEPT:

• Mountains and Deserts slowed travel

• Fertile Plains Attracted Farmers

• More settlers moved to California to be nearer to the coast

• Rivers and Railroads influenced settlement patterns

Which law gave 160 acres of land to anyone who would farm it for 5 years?

• The Dawes Act

• The Homestead Act

• The Indian Removal Act

• The Missouri Compromise

What was one major reason people moved west during the 1800s?

• To escape from the East Coast weather

• To find free land and economic opportunities

• To join the military

• To avoid paying taxes

How did the Transcontinental Railroad impact the United States?

• It only helped move military supplies

• It connected the East and West coasts, making travel and transport faster

• It was only used by railroad companies

• It caused the government to stop westward expansion