Historical Figures and Concepts

Steel City

• Pittsburgh

• Cleveland

• Detroit

• Chicago

Transcontinental Railroad

• Railroad that connected the East and West coasts of the United States.

• Railroad that stretched all the way across America, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

• Railroad primarily used for transporting goods within a single state.

• Railroad that was built exclusively for military purposes.

cattle trails

• trails used to drive large herds of cattle from Texas to railroads in the north

• paths for hiking in the countryside

• routes for transporting goods by truck

• roads used for automobile travel

Alexander G. Bell

• He invented a device that transmitted the human voice over wires.

• He discovered electricity and its applications.

• He developed the first telephone directory.

• He created the first radio transmission system.

Chicago

• this city is known for its beaches and skyscrapers.

• this city became famous for its railyards, meatpacking industry, and location on the Great Plains.

• this city is famous for its tech industry and startups.

• this city is known for its historical landmarks and museums.

George Washington Carver

• He taught crop rotation and created many products using peanuts and sweet potatoes.

• He was the first African American president of the United States.

• He invented the telephone and the light bulb.

• He was a famous painter known for his landscapes.

urbanization

• moving from rural areas (farms) to urban areas (cities)

• the process of increasing agricultural production

• the decline of city populations

• the movement of people from cities to rural areas

telephone

• A device invented by Thomas Edison for recording sound.

• A communication device invented by Alexander G. Bell that allowed instant communication.

• A type of mobile phone used for texting.

• An early form of radio communication.

Homestead Act

• U.S. government provided 160 acres of land for free to anyone willing to live on and farm it for five years.

• The Homestead Act required settlers to pay for the land they received.

• The Homestead Act was a law that restricted land ownership to wealthy individuals.

• The Homestead Act allowed people to claim land in urban areas only.

Chisholm Trail

• A cattle trail from the Red River in Texas to Abilene, Kansas

• A famous route for gold miners in California

• A historic railway line connecting the East and West coasts

• A major highway for transporting goods across the Midwest