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Westward Expansion

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 11mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

How did the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad impact the United States?

a)

It increased the number of people traveling to the West.

b)

It decreased the support for industrialization.

c)

It weakened the economy of the United States.

d)

It decreased political support for westward expansion.

2.

How did the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad impact many Native American tribes?

a)

It increased trade between Native American tribes.

b)

It created new states for Native American tribes.

c)

It increased the political power of Native American tribes.

d)

It destroyed natural resources used by Native American tribes.

3.

How did the United States government react to an increase in Chinese immigrants during the 1800s?

a)

It created a military alliance with China.

b)

It banned Chinese immigrants from entering the country.

c)

It increased trade with Asia.

d)

It began teaching Asian languages in public schools.

4.

As Americans moved west throughout the 19th century, how were Native Americans affected?

a)

They were forced to move onto reservations.

b)

They were forced to relocate to Canada.

c)

They lived together harmoniously with the settlers.

d)

They moved into large cities to find jobs in factories.

5.

This helped connect the east to the west

a)

open range

b)

cattle drives

c)

transcontinental railroad

6.

_____________ drives created towns in the southwest.

a)

mining

b)

cattle

c)

farm

7.
Immigrants from          worked for the Central Pacific, whereas          immigrants worked for the Union Pacific.
a)
Germany; Chinese
b)
China; Irish
c)
Ireland; Japanese
8.

This system of agriculture developed in the late 19th century, in which a landowner allowed a tenant to use the land in return for a portion of what was produced. It was called

a)

slash and burn farming

b)

share cropping

c)

rent farming

d)

farm to fork farming

9.
What was the effect of the Transcontinental Railroad?
a)
Became a more efficient form of transportation for settlers
b)
Increased trade between the east and west and boosted the economy
c)
Polluted the air and the natural environment
d)
All of the above
10.
What did the westward expansion offer for former slaves?
a)
food
b)
wealth
c)
land
d)
a new beginning and freedom
11.

Cattle were herded along trails and then put on ...

a)

planes

b)

trains

c)

cars

d)

boats

12.
Where did cattle drives begin? (Which state)
a)
Missouri
b)
Georgia
c)
Oklahoma
d)
Texas
13.
The Black Cowboys of Texas were 
a)
Spanish Cowboys from Mexico
b)
Carpetbaggers from the North
c)
Men who wore black costumes and rode only black horses
d)
Freed slaves who moved to Texas to pursue jobs as cowboys 
14.

Why did some African Americans move west to become cowboys?

a)

They would face more discrimination in the west

b)

They would become famous

c)

They would face less discrimination in the west

d)

They would become ranch owners.

15.

What was the purpose of the two trails marked on the above map?

a)

To ship cotton from southern Texas to factories in the north.

b)

To allow easy access to the Gulf of Mexico in order to ship goods.

c)

To allow ranchers to move their cattle north to railroads which shipped cattle east.

d)

To allow army troops in Texas to easily and quickly move north to help defend against attacks from American Indians.

16.

True or False: In the North and Eastern cities, cattle cost $40 each

a)

False

b)

True

17.

What caused Texas ranchers to drive their cattle north to the railways?

a)

Many of the miners from the California Gold Rush wanted beef as part of their diet.

b)

There was a major drought in south Texas and ranchers were driving herds north towards water sources.

c)

There was a strong demand for beef in eastern cities which gave the ranchers a price incentive to drive the cattle north.

d)

Roads were constructed through Texas making it much easier and quicker to drive the cattle north towards the railroads.

18.

Why did cattle drives end?

a)

Too many cattle

b)

Supply took over demand

c)

Sheep ranchers took over land

d)

Expansion of railroads and barbed wire fences

19.

Which of the following were some famous trails cowboys used to drive their cattle north to the railroads?

a)

Chisholm Trail

b)

Great Western Trail

c)

Texas Trail

d)

Chisholm and Great Western Trail

20.

Why did freed slaves go to Texas and work as cowboys in the years after the Civil War?

a)

They could own land in California

b)

They were sold to Texas ranchers.

c)

They were treated equally to white cowboys

d)

They thought the cowboy life was easy.