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People Moving South and West Study Guide - Lessons 1-3

Total questions: 39

Worksheet time: 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Why did settlers begin moving to the southern frontier in large numbers? (choose all that apply)

a)

for the gold so many were finding

b)

for the rich soil

c)

for the warmer climate which was great for growing cotton

d)

for the rain which was good for crops

2.

In the 1820's, settlers began to move into Texas and parts of _____.

a)

Mexico

b)

Canada

c)

California

d)

Spain

3.

Who owned Texas during the 1820's when settlers began to move into Texas and parts of Mexico?

a)

the Mexican government

b)

the United States

c)

Spain

d)

Great Britain

4.

Why did the Mexican government stop allowing Americans to settle in Texas by 1830? (choose all that apply)

a)

Slavery was not allowed in Mexico even though many settlers brought their slaves.

b)

Settlers would not practice the Catholic Religion.

c)

Settlers wanted more say in the government.

d)

The Mexicans were afraid the settlers would revolt.

e)

Settlers were growing too many crops and taking away from the Mexicans.

5.

In 1835 the settlers began to fight for their independence from Mexico in the _________________.

a)

Texas Revolution

b)

American Revolution

c)

Industrial Revolution

d)

Mexican Revolution

6.

What happened at the Alamo?

a)

184 Texans fought the Mexican army for 13 days and won.

b)

184 Texans fought the Mexican army for 13 days and the Mexican army won.

c)

Texas won their independence.

d)

Mexico City was destroyed.

7.

Sam Houston led more Texans to defeat the Mexicans near San Jacinto River, forcing the troops out of the Rio Grande. Texas became an independent country with Houston as president.

a)

True

b)

False

8.

Although they were defeated, ____________ led more Texans to defeat the Mexicans near the San Jacinto River, forcing troops out of the Rio Grande.

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

Sam Houston

c)

Santa Anna

d)

Andrew Jackson

9.

The United States agreed about the annexing Texas as a state.

a)

True

b)

False

10.

Why was Texas weak when it first became independent?

a)

It suffered from more attacks from Mexico.

b)

It attacked the United States.

c)

It was broke.

d)

It was rich.

11.

What did Houston ask President Andrew Jackson to do for Texas?

a)

Allow them to stay independent.

b)

Annex or add Texas to the United States.

c)

Annex or add Texas and Oklahoma to the United States.

d)

Annex or add Texas to the United States but let them make their own laws.

12.

What were some reasons the United States disagreed about annexing Texas? (choose all that apply)

a)

they feared it would expand slavery in the United States

b)

they feared it would lead to war with Mexico

c)

they feared it would lead to war with Spain

d)

they feared it would not allow slavery to expand in the United States

13.

Citizens that wanted to annex Texas believed in the idea of manifest destiny. What does manifest destiny mean?

a)

the belief that the US should expand west to the Pacific Ocean

b)

the belief that the US should expand east to the Atlantic Ocean

c)

the belief that the US should expand south to the Gulf of Mexico

d)

the belief that the US should expand north to Canada

14.

What year did Texas become a state?

a)

1842

b)

1845

c)

1848

d)

1859

15.

The Oregon Country made up what is now the southwestern part of the United States.

a)

True

b)

False

16.

Before 1846 both the United States and ______________ claimed the Oregon Country.

a)

Great Britain

b)

Canada

c)

Mexico

d)

Spain

17.

Who were the first settlers in the Oregon Country? (choose all that apply)

a)

missionaries

b)

people seeking gold

c)

fur trappers

d)

American Indians

18.

What was one reason missionaries came to the Oregon Country?

a)

to teach reading to the Native Americans

b)

to teach the Christian religion to the Native Americans

c)

to help the Native Americans plant the land

d)

to teach Native Americans how to build houses

19.

What does the phrase "Oregon fever" describe?

a)

people eagerly seeking a new life in the west

b)

people encouraging others not to move west

c)

people eagerly seeking life in the south

d)

people eagerly seeking life in the north

20.

How far did settlers travel on the Oregon Trail to reach Oregon?

a)

1,000 miles

b)

2,000 miles

c)

2,500 miles

d)

1,500 miles

21.

They traveled by wagon pulled by oxen or horses.

a)

True

b)

False

22.

What is a wagon train?

a)

one wagon with settlers walking behind it

b)

many people traveling together forming long lines of wagons

c)

many people traveling together forming long lines of horses

d)

many people traveling together forming long lines of cattle

23.

How was life on the Oregon Trail described?

a)

short and easy

b)

a relaxing journey

c)

long and difficult

d)

easy for those who were riding in wagons

24.

Why did settlers travel together?

a)

for protection

b)

to plant things along the way

c)

so they would not be lonely

d)

to help them move faster

25.

Many died along the way from ___________.

a)

animal attacks

b)

sickness and accidents

c)

eating too much food

d)

animal stampedes

26.

The California Trail was traveled by those seeking _______________.

a)

farmland or gold

b)

trade

c)

fur trade and silver

d)

religious freedom

27.

The Old Spanish Trail was traveled by those seeking _______________.

a)

farmland or gold

b)

trade

c)

fur trade and silver

d)

religious freedom

28.

The Santa Fe Trail was traveled by those seeking _______________.

a)

farmland or gold

b)

trade

c)

fur trade and silver

d)

religious freedom

29.

The Mormon Trail was traveled by those seeking _______________.

a)

farmland or gold

b)

trade

c)

fur trade and silver

d)

religious freedom

30.

In 1848 John Marshall's discovery of gold started the ______________.

a)

Oregon Trail

b)

California gold rush

c)

fur trade

d)

California silver rush

31.

How did people that left their homes and jobs to travel to California get there?

a)

land

b)

water

c)

horseback

d)

all of the above

32.

How did the gold rush of 1848 affect the population in California?

a)

it stayed the same

b)

it grew rapidly

c)

it grew slowly

d)

there was no affect

33.

Where did the people moving to California during the gold rush come from?

a)

many different places

b)

from the south

c)

from the west

d)

from the north

34.

Why were the people moving west during the gold rush called the forty-niners?

a)

because of the year they were born

b)

because of the year they started traveling to California

c)

because of the year they arrived

d)

because most of them were forty-nine years old at the time

35.

The miners had many places to look for gold.

a)

True

b)

False

36.

The life of a miner was difficult because _____________. (choose all that apply)

a)

it was hard work

b)

gold was hard to find

c)

they had to climb so high to find the gold

d)

gold was everywhere

37.

Many miners worked in large groups instead of working alone.

a)

True

b)

False

38.

Most miners that came to California during the gold rush were successful and struck it rich.

a)

True

b)

False

39.

Many miners found little gold and silver so they left the towns, leaving them ____________.

a)

richly populated

b)

booming with business

c)

with new houses

d)

ghost towns