Exploring Westward Expansion: Causes and Effects of Manifest Destiny

The video explores the transformation of San Francisco during the Gold Rush, highlighting the rapid population growth and cultural diversity. It delves into the concept of Manifest Destiny, which fueled westward expansion, and the economic opportunities that attracted immigrants. Government acts like the Pacific Railway and Homestead Acts facilitated this migration. The video also discusses the cultural messaging of the era and the resulting racial conflicts, including the impact on Native Americans and the Chinese Exclusion Act.

What was the population of San Francisco in 1848?

• 350,000 residents

• 15,000 residents

• 1,000 residents

• 30,000 residents

What major event caused the population boom in San Francisco by 1850?

• The Homestead Act

• The construction of the Transcontinental Railroad

• The discovery of gold

• The Mexican-American War

Who coined the term 'Manifest Destiny'?

• John Gast

• John O'Sullivan

• Thomas Jefferson

• James K. Polk

What does the term 'Providence' refer to in the context of Manifest Destiny?

• God's help

• Natural resources

• Military power

• Government support

What was the primary occupation of people who moved to the West before the Gold Rush?

• Merchants

• Railroad workers

• Farmers

• Miners

Which act granted railroad companies over a hundred million acres to complete a Transcontinental Railroad?

• The Free Soil Act

• The Pacific Railway Act

• The Gold Rush Act

• The Homestead Act

What was the purpose of the Homestead Act?

• To provide land for railroad construction

• To grant land to small independent farmers

• To establish military bases

• To support mining operations

What was one major effect of westward expansion on Native Americans?

• Access to new technologies

• Increased trade opportunities

• Improved living conditions

• Forced relocation to reservations

Which law laid the groundwork for the first race-based immigration restriction in US history?

• The Chinese Exclusion Act

• The Homestead Act

• The Pacific Railway Act

• The Free Soil Act

What was a significant consequence of new western states joining the Union?

• Economic decline

• Increased sectional conflict

• Decreased racial violence

• Improved relations with Native Americans