Westward Expansion and Its Impacts

The video discusses the Westward Expansion in the United States, focusing on the push and pull factors that influenced migration. Push factors include expensive farmland, failed businesses, and ethnic or religious repression. Pull factors are government incentives like the Pacific Railway Acts, Morrill Land Grant Act, and the Homestead Act, which offered land and opportunities for settlers. The video also highlights the historical context of the expansion, including the role of Native Americans, cowboys, and the development of new territories.

What was the primary focus of the Westward Expansion during the post-Civil War era?

• Reconstruction of the Southern states

• Settling the unsettled territories in the West

• Expansion of the railroad in the North

• Industrialization in the East

Which of the following was a push factor that encouraged people to move westward?

• Religious freedom in the East

• Expensive farmland in the East

• Abundant job opportunities in the East

• Stable political environment in the East

Why did many failed entrepreneurs decide to move west?

• To find new business partners

• To escape high taxes

• To start over and rebuild their fortunes

• To join the gold rush

Which group was notably affected by ethnic and religious repression, prompting their westward migration?

• Mormons

• Catholics

• Quakers

• Puritans

What was a significant reason for African-Americans to move west during the Reconstruction era?

• To join the military

• To participate in the gold rush

• To find better educational opportunities

• To escape the Black Codes and racism in the South

What was one of the main government incentives to encourage westward expansion?

• The Gold Rush

• The Civil Rights Movement

• The Pacific Railway Acts

• The Industrial Revolution

How did the Morrill Land Grant Act contribute to westward expansion?

• By providing free transportation to the West

• By offering land for agricultural colleges

• By funding military expeditions

• By establishing new cities

What was the main requirement for settlers to receive land under the Homestead Act?

• They had to build a school

• They had to farm the land for 5 years

• They had to be married

• They had to be veterans

How many acres of land were settlers entitled to under the Homestead Act?

• 640 acres

• 80 acres

• 320 acres

• 160 acres

What was the filing fee for settlers to acquire land under the Homestead Act?

• A percentage of their crops

• A large sum of money

• A small fee

• No fee at all