Essential Question: Settlement of the West during the Gilded Age

Factors that led to the settlement of the West during the Gilded Age (1870-1900) included:

• The availability of free land, expansion of railroads, and discovery of valuable minerals.

• Strict immigration laws and limited transportation.

• Lack of economic opportunities and frequent natural disasters.

• Government restrictions on westward movement.

After the Civil War, the area west of the Mississippi River was settled by which groups of people?

• Miners, ranchers, and farmers

• Merchants and bankers

• Factory workers and engineers

• Politicians and teachers

According to the pie chart, what percentage of land was farmland in the United States in 1850?

• 16%

• 5%

• 32%

• 50%

According to the pie chart, what percentage of land was farmland in the United States in 1900?

• 44%

• 25%

• 60%

• 10%

A major change that can be observed when comparing the maps of land use in 1860 and 1880 is:

• An increase in agricultural land

• A decrease in forested areas

• A rise in urban development

• A reduction in water bodies

According to the legend, what does the purple color on the maps represent?

• Land used for farms, cities, mines

• Bodies of water

• Forests and parks

• Mountains and hills

Mining was the first industry to attract settlers to the West after the Civil War.

• True

• False

Before the Civil War, miners discovered gold in which of the following states?

• California, Colorado, Nevada

• Texas, Arizona, Utah

• Oregon, Idaho, Montana

• New Mexico, Wyoming, Kansas

After the Civil War, miners resumed their migration into the West to find more gold and _____

• silver

• coal

• oil

• copper

According to the map, which of the following minerals was NOT a major mine product in the late 1800s West?

• Copper

• Gold

• Silver

• Coal