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Going West Game

Total questions: 26

Worksheet time: 13mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

After the Gold Rush of 1849, people dreamed of a faster, cheaper, and safer way to travel west. What new technology of the 1800's made this dream a reality?

a)

Wagon trains

b)

Pony Express

c)

Transcontinental Railroad

d)

Stagecoach

2.

What most likely attracted the people in this picture to this place?

a)

Free land offered by the Homestead Act of 1862

b)

Freedom from slavery

c)

Freedom from Indian attacks

d)

The promise of jobs

3.

In which regions did the United States Army fight the Native Americans in the final battles of Little Bighorn and Wounded Knee?

a)

Northeast and Southeast Regions

b)

Midwest and Rocky Mountain Regions

c)

Midwest and Southeast Regions

d)

Midwest and Southwest Regions

4.

Which immigrants were used as workers on the Transcontinental Railroad?

a)

Japanese and Norwegian

b)

Chinese and Irish

c)

Siamese and French

d)

Korean and Russian

5.

"From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever." This statement made by Nez Perce leader Chief Joseph meant that-

a)

They attempted to change their lifestyles of their tribes.

b)

They were able to avoid the influence of the white settlers.

c)

They were forced to relocate to reservations.

d)

The government supported their traditional lifestyles.

6.

Which was most likely the biggest problem faced by American Indians on reservations?

a)

Reservations were far form the places where the other tribes were located.

b)

Reservations were located on dry wastelands that were unwanted by settlers.

c)

Reservations were built close to towns and cities.

d)

Reservations were separated by railroad tracks.

7.

Which description applies to Sitting Bull?

a)

Led a series of raids against Mexican and American forces in the Southwest

b)

Opposed American westward expansion and defeated the American Army in the Battle of Little Big Horn

c)

Forced into relocating from his traditional land to live on a reservation

8.

Which Indian leader led a series of raids against Mexican and American forces?

a)

Geronimo

b)

Sitting Bull

c)

Chief Joseph

9.

Which description applies to Chief Joseph?

a)

Defeated the American Army in the Battle of Little Big Horn

b)

Forced into relocation from his traditional land to live on a reservation

c)

Led a series of raids against Mexican and American forces in the Southwest

10.

"Pikes Peak or Bust" was a slogan people often used when moving west because of the-

a)

sense of adventure

b)

discovery of gold and silver

c)

love of the mountains

d)

opportunities for land ownership

11.

Why was the technological advance pictured so important after the Civil War?

a)

It was safer from Indian attacks than other transportation.

b)

It was the only way to get to the westward expansion territories.

c)

It was less costly to travel this way.

d)

It could carry people and goods where canal and rivers could not.

12.

"What was it the engines said, Pilots touching, head to head, Facing on a single track, Half a world behind each back? In the poem which effort of 1869 is Bret Harte referring to?

a)

Historic flight of Orville and Wilbur Wright

b)

Expansion of the West and cattle ranches

c)

Creation of a reservation system

d)

Use of the first Transcontinental Railroad

13.

Select the following that were involved in settlement of the Great Plains region.

a)

Sod House

b)

Cotton Gin

c)

Barbed Wire

d)

Windmills

e)

Steam Boat

14.

Olivia made this flier to illustrate her understanding of the opportunities available to Americans during the period of westward expansion. What could Olivia add for number 3?

a)

No rules or laws to obey

b)

Guarantee of fertile land and 100 head of cattle to every person who makes the trip

c)

Free unlimited train travel

d)

Opportunities for land ownership

15.

Before the Civil War, the Great Plains were often referred to as-

a)

a treeless wasteland

b)

the great unknown

c)

the bread basket

d)

the gold mine of the west

16.

Why were dust storms a problem for farmers in the Great Plains?

a)

The storms made it difficult to locate buildings and fields on the farms.

b)

The sod houses in which the farm workers lived were destroyed by the storms.

c)

The storms blew away the top soil which contained nutrients necessary to grow crops.

d)

The animals wandered away from the fields in which they grazed.

17.

What made the Great Plains difficult to settle?

a)

The climate was too wet to raise cattle.

b)

Erosion by wind and dust storms were common.

c)

The soil was only suited for growing cotton and tobacco.

d)

The mountains blocked warm air needed to grow crops.

18.

Which adaptation did nineteenth century farmers in the Great Plains use to have successful crop production?

a)

Dry farming

b)

Crop rotation

c)

Compost piles

d)

Organic farming

19.

What is the best title for this graphic?

a)

Inventions in the 21st century

b)

Inventions by miners to get old in California

c)

Inventions brought on by the Industrial Revolution

d)

Inventions and adaptations of westward settlers

20.

What would be the best title for the box labeled with the triangle?

a)

Physical features and climate

b)

Treeless wastelands

c)

Construction of Transcontinental Railroad

d)

Inventions and Adaptations

21.

How did the invention pictured above enable settlers to live on the Great Plains?

a)

It kept the farm cool during periods of extreme heat.

b)

It created electricity that allowed them to use machines.

c)

It improved communication between settlers.

d)

It allowed them to dig wells deep enough to access water.

22.

What conflict in South Dakota led to the slaughter of more than 300 natives in the Plains Indians last major offensive against the US Government in December of 1890?

a)

Trail of Tears

b)

Sand Creek Massacre

c)

Battle of Rosebud

d)

Wounded Knee Creek Massacre

23.

During what battle did Lakota Sioux chief Sitting Bull led the Plains Indians to victory over Lt. Colonel George A. Custer in 1876?

a)

Rosebud

b)

Fort Laramie

c)

Little Bighorn

d)

Medicine Lodge

24.

Compare the two photographs of the Apache school children and explain how these images show the impact of westward expansion on Native Americans?

a)

Native Americans gained opportunities to own land.

b)

Native Americans were forced to assimilate into American culture.

c)

Native Americans benefited from purchasing mail order goods

d)

Native Americans went west in search of gold and silver wealth.

25.

What law did the government pass in 1887 that split up the Indian reservations into plots of land to further assimilate Native Americans and to adapt them to white culture?

a)

Homestead Act

b)

Dawes Act

c)

Indian Citizenship Act of 1924

d)

Stamp Act

26.

The phrase "Save the man, kill the Indian" relects what impact of westward expansion on the lives of Native Americans?

a)

Segregation

b)

Maintaining their Indian culture

c)

Assimilating Indians into white culture

d)

Warfare, disease, and reduction of the buffalo population