Westward Movement and Its Impacts

The video explores the transformation of the United States post-Civil War, focusing on the Westward Movement. It discusses the destruction in the South, the migration to the West, and the era of the American Cowboy. Key legislation like the Homestead and Pacific Railway Acts facilitated settlement. Technological advancements, such as the railroad and mechanical reaper, revolutionized farming and transportation. The West evolved from an untamed frontier to a region of farms and towns, leading to the creation of new states and the displacement of Native Americans.

What was one of the main reasons for the intensified westward movement after the Civil War?

• The end of slavery

• The invention of the automobile

• The destruction of the South

• The discovery of gold in California

What role did cowboys play in the American West during the post-Civil War era?

• They were primarily miners searching for gold.

• They were responsible for herding cattle over long distances.

• They were involved in the fur trade.

• They built the railroads across the country.

Which law provided free public land to settlers willing to farm it?

• The Pacific Railway Act

• The Homestead Act of 1862

• The Land Ordinance of 1785

• The Morrill Act

What was the purpose of the Pacific Railway Act?

• To establish national parks

• To support the building of the Transcontinental Railroad

• To provide land for Native American reservations

• To fund the construction of the Erie Canal

Which group of people were not allowed to apply for land grants under the Homestead Act?

• Immigrant farmers

• African-American settlers

• Confederate soldiers

• Union soldiers

What was the primary function of the Transcontinental Railroad?

• To serve as a military supply line

• To connect the East and West coasts of the United States

• To transport gold from California to the East

• To provide a scenic route for tourists

How did the mechanical reaper change farming in the West?

• It allowed for faster and more efficient harvesting of crops.

• It introduced irrigation systems to dry areas.

• It provided a method for planting seeds automatically.

• It was used to clear forests for farmland.

What was the 'bread basket' of the nation due to the mechanical reaper?

• The Rocky Mountains

• The Great Plains

• The Appalachian Mountains

• The Mississippi River Valley

What was a significant result of the Westward Movement by 1900?

• The West was primarily used for military training.

• The West was abandoned due to harsh conditions.

• The West became a region of farms, ranches, and towns.

• The West remained largely an untamed frontier.

What was one impact of the Westward Movement on Native Americans?

• They were given large areas of land to settle.

• They were forcibly removed from their lands.

• They were integrated into the new towns and cities.

• They were employed as cowboys on cattle drives.