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Westward Expansion Pre-Quiz

Total questions: 15

Worksheet time: 8mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

At first, ranchers saw barbed wire as a threat because it

a)

harmed their cattle.

b)

kept their herds from roaming freely.

c)

required much effort to maintain.

d)

kept their herds away from food.

2.

Under the Homestead Act, homesteaders could gain title to the land by

a)

fencing it within five years.

b)

Putting cattle on it.

c)

living there for five years.

d)

building a home on it and renting it out.

3.

One approach to farming the Great Plains was “dry farming,” in which farmers

a)

cooperated to build community irrigation ditches from the nearest river.

b)

dug out depressions to catch the precious rain, creating ponds for irrigation.

c)

selected crops that could withstand long periods without rain.

d)

planted seeds deep in the ground where there was enough moisture for them.

4.

The goal of the Dawes Act was to

a)

Sell the Native Americans land.

b)

returning them to their native lands.

c)

reintroducing the buffalo to reservation lands.

d)

Assimilate Native Americans into American Culture.

5.

The fencing of the open range resulted in all of the following EXCEPT

a)

the end of long cattle drives.

b)

the transition of cowboys to ranch hands

c)

the replacement of longhorns with new European breeds.

d)

the decline of the cattle industry in favor of sheep ranching.

6.

Wheat had an advantage on the Great Plains because

a)

it could withstand drought better than other crops.

b)

it could resist disease better than other crops.

c)

large amounts of it could grow on a relatively small plot of land.

d)

it could bring higher prices than other crops suitable for cultivation there.

7.

The army encouraged white hunters to kill buffalo to

a)

stop buffalo from trampling crops.

b)

starve the Native Americans.

c)

force Native Americans onto reservations.

d)

make way for new railroad lines.

8.

The confrontation at Wounded Knee occurred because the chief’s followers

a)

would not stay on the reservation.

b)

were raiding nearby farms.

c)

continued to hunt buffalo.

d)

continued to perform a ritual.

9.

Cattle ranching grew after the civil war for two reasons...

a)

herds slaughtered for the Civil War causing beef prices to soar & construction of the railroad increased profitability

b)

herds slaughtered for the MX-American War causing beef prices to soar & construction of the railroad decreased profitability

c)

herds slaughtered for the Revolutionary War causing beef prices to soar & construction of the railroad increased profitability

10.

What was the purpose of the Morrill Land Grant Act?

a)

Help settlers be more successful & aide in westward expansion.

b)

Taught settlers to build soddies

c)

Provided settlers with iron plows

d)

Teach settlers who to care for cattle in the West

11.

What were some of the benefits of building a Transcontinental Railroad?

a)

Bring natural resources from the West to Eastern Factories.

b)

Connect the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes

c)

Made it easier for Eastern hunters to trade with the Native Americans

12.

The Native American tribes that hunted buffalo, provided...

a)

food, shelter & clothing

b)

tradable good, religious ceremony & tools

c)

interfered with nomadic hunting patterns & cut off their important resources

13.

Which is NOT one of the Populist Party Platform of 1892?

a)

Direct election of Senators

b)

8 hour workday

c)

free coinage of silver

d)

bimetallism

14.

What was NOT a cause of the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887?

a)

Railroads charging unfair shipping rates

b)

farmers caught in a cycle of debt

c)

price of wheat fell from $2.00 to $.68

d)

influx of immigration

15.

Which of the following is NOT a factor of the Panic of 1893?

a)

Investors sell stock to purchase gold

b)

Investors buy on the margin

c)

US Treasury is depleted of gold

d)

the Industrial balloon pops