Factors Influencing Westward Expansion

The video discusses factors influencing the settlement of the American West, including economic, military, and social aspects. The Homestead Act of 1862 played a significant role by offering land to settlers, encouraging migration. The American Civil War and the end of slavery also impacted settlement patterns. Technological advancements in agriculture, such as wind pumps and barbed wire, helped overcome farming challenges on the plains. The video concludes with a summary and hints at future topics for further exploration.

Which of the following was NOT a factor affecting the settlement of the West?

• Economic factors

• Military factors

• Cultural factors

• Political factors

What did the Homestead Act of 1862 offer to settlers?

• 200 acres of land for free

• 160 acres of land for a $10 fee

• 100 acres of land for a $5 fee

• 50 acres of land for free

Which group was NOT mentioned as taking advantage of the Homestead Act?

• English settlers

• Irish settlers

• Chinese settlers

• German settlers

What was a significant military factor that influenced the settlement of the West?

• World War I

• The American Revolution

• The American Civil War

• The War of 1812

What was the Confederacy's main economic dependency?

• Slavery

• Agriculture

• Industrialization

• Trade

Which invention was introduced in 1854 to aid farming on the plains?

• Wind pumps

• Barbed wire

• Sodbuster plows

• Tractors

What was the purpose of barbed wire introduced in 1874?

• To support railroad construction

• To protect crops from animals

• To mark property boundaries

• To aid in mining operations

Which of the following was NOT a technological advancement mentioned in the video?

• Steam engines

• Wind pumps

• Barbed wire

• Sodbuster plows

What was a social factor that encouraged settlement on the plains?

• The Homestead Act

• The introduction of railroads

• The end of the Civil War

• The invention of the telegraph

Which factor was NOT highlighted as encouraging settlement in the conclusion?

• Social factors

• Economic factors

• Military factors

• Cultural factors