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 tough soil, making farming possible

• 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

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

Which of the following was a negative impact of westward expansion on Indigenous people?

• Increase in buffalo herds

• Preservation of all tribal lands

• Forced removal from ancestral lands

• More job opportunities for Indigenous people

Despite many hardships, how did Indigenous communities show resilience and survival?

• By abandoning their traditions

• By preserving languages and traditions

• By moving to cities and forgetting their culture

• By refusing to teach history to future generations