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WorksheetsWestward Expansion
Total questions: 54
Worksheet time: 27mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
The Great Plains is an area that is mainly covered by what?
a)
trees
b)
grasslands
c)
ocean water
d)
rock
2.
The Great Plains is an area that rises from ___________ to _________.
a)
east - west
b)
north - south
c)
west - east
d)
south - north
3.
In the Great Plains they experience very little what?
a)
rainfall
b)
wind
c)
thunderstorms
d)
dust storms
4.
Which of the following did the American Indians NOT use the buffalo for?
a)
food
b)
money
c)
clothing
d)
shelter
5.
Which state is NOT located in the Great Plains?
a)
Nebraska
b)
Kansas
c)
South Dakota
d)
Missouri
6.
The area shaded in yellow is known as what?
a)
Appalachian Mountains
b)
Great Plains
c)
Sierra Nevada Mountains
d)
Coastal Plains
7.
What act gave 160 acres of land to settlers for a small price?
a)
Homestead Act
b)
Land Act
c)
Dawes Act
d)
Acre Give-Away Act
8.
To take advantage of the Homestead Act, what did you have to do?
a)
build a home on the land and improve it
b)
plant wheat and make $10
c)
raise cattle for 10 years
d)
pay $600 and buy a steel plow
9.
What group was not allowed to take advantage of the Homestead Act?
a)
African Americans
b)
Males
c)
Women
d)
American Indians
10.
In this state a land race was held that gave away land. Some of the people sunk in before the race started and were nicknamed, "sooners."
a)
Texas
b)
Oklahoma
c)
Kansas
d)
North Dakota
11.
Who was given some of the best land from the government as a part of the Homestead Act?
a)
farmers
b)
cowboys
c)
miners
d)
railroad companies
12.
This invention helped break up the hard and sticky soil in the Great Plains.
a)
tractor
b)
steel plow
c)
wooden plow
d)
cultivator
13.
John Deere invented what invention from Westward Expansion?
a)
windmill
b)
wheat farming
c)
steel plow
d)
barbed wire
14.
This crop was the most common crop grown in the Great Plains.
a)
wheat
b)
corn
c)
straw
d)
trees
15.
Out of the 4 inventions below, which is NOT seen in this image of a family on the plains?
a)
steel plow
b)
windmill
c)
sod house
d)
barbed wire
16.
Why was the windmill used on the Great Plains?
a)
to power lights in the house
b)
to pump water out of the ground
c)
to create electricity
d)
to scare away the animals
17.
Why were both plows and windmills more durable during westward expansion?
a)
both used steel parts
b)
the lack of rain made them stronger
c)
animals helped do the work
d)
they weren't more durable
18.
What was used by both farmers and cattle ranchers to protect their crops and animals?
a)
steel plow
b)
windmill
c)
barbed wire
d)
sod
19.
What did settlers living in the Great Plains make their homes out of?
a)
wood
b)
brick
c)
straw
d)
sod
20.
What was one major advantage of the Transcontinental Railroad?
a)
supplies and people could be transferred faster
b)
travel time slowed down
c)
you were more likely to die in a train crash
d)
it reduced the number of buffalo in the Plains
21.
What group of railroad workers built the train from Sacramento, California to Promontory Point, Utah?
a)
Chinese
b)
Irish
c)
German
d)
Mexican
22.
What group of railroad workers built the train from Omaha, Nebraska to Promontory Point, Utah?
a)
Chinese
b)
Irish
c)
German
d)
Mexican
23.
What was the name of the train company that built the railroad from California to Utah?
a)
Central Pacific
b)
General Union
c)
Union Pacific
d)
Western Railroad
24.
What was the name of the train company that built the railroad from Nebraska to Utah?
a)
Central Pacific
b)
General Union
c)
Union Pacific
d)
Western Railroad
25.
What city is located at the number 1 on the map?
a)
Omaha
b)
Promontory Point
c)
Sacramento
26.
What city is located at the number 2 on the map?
a)
Omaha
b)
Promontory Point
c)
Sacramento
27.
What city is located at the number 3 on the map?
a)
Omaha
b)
Promontory Point
c)
Sacramento
28.
The Transcontinental Railroad connected what two parts of the United States?
a)
east to west
b)
west to south
c)
north to south
d)
south to east
29.
Why did so many people become cowboys?
a)
it was adventurous
b)
they could own land
c)
the chance to find gold or silver
d)
to start a new life
30.
Why did so many people become miners?
a)
it was adventurous
b)
they could own land
c)
the chance to find gold or silver
d)
to start a new life
31.
Why did so many people become farmers?
a)
it was adventurous
b)
they could own land
c)
the chance to find gold or silver
d)
to start a new life
32.
What is an exoduster?
a)
a former slave who moved west to start a new life
b)
a cowboy that was in charge of over 400 cattle
c)
a farmer who grew wheat
d)
person who worked for the Central Pacific Railroad
33.
The invention of barbed wire brought an end to what?
a)
cattle ranching
b)
open range
c)
railroad lines
d)
farming
34.
What group of settlers is pictured here?
a)
cowboys
b)
farmers
c)
fur traders
d)
American Indians
35.
Who was put on reservations?
a)
Freed Slaves
b)
cowboys
c)
American Indians
d)
Chinese Railroad Workers
36.
Why were American Indians put on reservations?
a)
the government wanted to take their land
b)
to protect them from the buffalo
c)
so the train could be built
d)
to keep them safe from dangerous winters
37.
Who am I?
a)
Crazy Horse
b)
Chief Joseph
c)
Geronimo
d)
Sitting Bull
38.
Who am I?
a)
Crazy Horse
b)
Chief Joseph
c)
Geronimo
d)
Sitting Bull
39.
Who am I?
a)
Crazy Horse
b)
Chief Joseph
c)
Geronimo
d)
Sitting Bull
40.
Geronimo was the leader of what tribe that was located in the Southwest?
a)
Apache
b)
Lakota
c)
Sioux
d)
Nez Perce
41.
Sitting Bull was the leader of what tribe that was located in the Great Plains?
a)
Apache
b)
Lakota
c)
Sioux
d)
Nez Perce
42.
Chief Joseph was the leader of what tribe that was located in the Northwest?
a)
Apache
b)
Lakota
c)
Sioux
d)
Nez Perce
43.
Why was Geronimo famous?
a)
he fought being sent to reservations and hid from the American government
b)
he tried to lead his followers to Canada
c)
he was a spiritual leader of his people at Little Bighorn
d)
he escaped to Canada and attacked the United States
44.
Why was Chief Joseph famous?
a)
he fought being sent to reservations and hid from the American government
b)
he tried to lead his followers to Canada
c)
he was a spiritual leader of his people at Little Bighorn
d)
he escaped to Canada and attacked the United States
45.
Why was Sitting Bull famous?
a)
he fought being sent to reservations and hid from the American government
b)
he tried to lead his followers to Canada
c)
he was a spiritual leader of his people at Little Bighorn
d)
he escaped to Canada and attacked the United States
46.
Who said this famous quote?
a)
Crazy Horse
b)
Geronimo
c)
Sitting Bull
d)
Chief Joseph
47.
Why was the Battle of LIttle Bighorn fought?
a)
gold was found in the Black Hills
b)
the government needed the land for farmers
c)
the railroad workers were killed by American Indians
d)
America killed too many buffalo
48.
Why was the Battle of Little Bighorn important?
a)
It was the last major victory for American Indians
b)
America defeated Chief Joseph
c)
Crazy Horse was killed
d)
It was the last time American Indians fought back
49.
Why was the Wounded Knee Massacre important?
a)
It was the last major victory for American Indians
b)
America defeated Chief Joseph
c)
Crazy Horse was killed
d)
It was the last time American Indians fought back
50.
Name that battle
a)
Wounded Knee Massacre
b)
Battle of Little Bighorn
c)
Battle of Bad Axe
d)
Bear Valley
51.
Name that battle
a)
Wounded Knee Massacre
b)
Battle of Little Bighorn
c)
Battle of Bad Axe
d)
Bear Valley
52.
What famous person was killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn?
a)
General Lee
b)
Lieutenant Colonel Custer
c)
Geronimo
d)
Crazy Horse
53.
What was the purpose of the Dawes Act?
a)
Turn American Indians into farmers
b)
Give away land to settlers
c)
Provide equal rights
d)
Protect Railroad Workers
54.
When did American Indians finally become American citizens?
a)
1914
b)
1924
c)
1966
d)
1981
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