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Worksheets

Westward Movement

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 11mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

During the late 1800s, sod houses were built in the Great Plains because _________.

a)

The region's weather conditions were calm

b)

Dust storms destroyed all of the region's trees

c)

Materials to build a shelter were limited

d)

Industrial demand for trees was high

2.

Which of these THREE inventions helped people live on the Great Plains?

a)

Barbed wire

b)

Automobiles

c)

Tractors

d)

Sod Houses

e)

Steel Plows

3.

Who led the Nez Perce tribe on an unsuccessful exodus to Canada?

a)

Sitting Bull

b)

George Custer

c)

Geronimo

d)

Chief Joseph

4.

One of the impacts that westward movement had on Native Americans was that they were relocated from their traditional lands to ______.

a)

Overseas territories

b)

Internment camps

c)

Canada and Mexico

d)

Reservations

5.

The discovery of _______ and ________ was a major reason for westward movement, but many Native American tribes lost their land as a result.

a)

Copper - Iron ore

b)

Wheat - Dry farming

c)

Weapons - Buffalo

d)

Gold - Silver

6.

After the Civil War, the Homestead Act opened up large areas of the Great Plains for settlement, making _______ available to many Americans.

a)

Reservations

b)

Cattle herds

c)

Land ownership

d)

Gold mines

7.

Which adaptation, shown in the photograph, helped provide water to the Great Plains?

a)

Barbed wire

b)

Windmill

c)

Steel plow

d)

Dry farming

8.

The invention pictured above was used in the Great Plains to ______.

a)

Fortify fences against harsh weather conditions

b)

Easily cut through soil to plant seeds

c)

Protect livestock and mark property boundaries

d)

Enclose prisoners

9.

The BEST title for this organizer would be _______.

a)

Reasons for Westward Movement

b)

Impact of Westward Expansion on Native Americans

c)

New Technology Used in the Great Plains

d)

Discrimination Against Immigrants

10.

What climate feature eroded the soil and made life on the Great Plains very difficult?

a)

Hurricanes

b)

Rain

c)

Wind

d)

Hail

11.

Which of the THREE following people would have been likely to migrate westward after the Civil War?

a)

People looking for adventure

b)

Wealthy owner of a factory

c)

Former slaves

d)

Miner searching for gold and silver

12.

Which of the following was NOT an impact of westward movement on Native Americans?

a)

Increase of the buffalo population

b)

Assimilation attempts and lifestyle changes

c)

Forced relocation from their traditional lands

d)

Reduced population through warfare and disease

13.

Why was the Massacre of Wounded Knee significant?

a)

It was the worst defeat by the U.S. Army against Native Americans

b)

It began an era of dominance of the Great Plains by Native Americans

c)

It was the last major battle between the U.S. Army and Native Americans

d)

It removed all Native Americans from the reservations

14.

One of the major outcomes resulting from the event in this picture was that _______.

a)

Westward expansion occurred quickly

b)

People migrated to the south

c)

Gold and silver were discovered

d)

Farms became more industrialized

15.

Which battle occurred in 1876 that resulted in the defeat of Custer's 7th Cavalry by Sioux Native Americans?

a)

Battle of Sutter's Mill

b)

Battle of the Great Plains

c)

Battle of Little Bighorn

d)

Massacre of Wounded Knee

16.

The Great Plains can be described as _______

a)

Mountainous areas that run north and south

b)

Lowlands that gradually rise from west to east

c)

River valleys that rise south to north

d)

Flatlands that rise gradually from east to west

17.

Which group moved to the Great Plains in search of a new beginning following the Civil War?

a)

Former enslaved African Americans

b)

Native Americans

c)

Women

d)

Northern business owners

18.

Because of new technologies, people saw the Great Plains not as a "treeless wasteland" but as a _______

a)

Land rich with natural resources

b)

Vast area to be settled

c)

Plateau with plentiful rain

d)

Mountainous area to be explored

19.

The above quote is from a Native American who fought against U.S. troops for 19 years before he was finally captured. Who is he?

a)

Geronimo

b)

Crazy Horse

c)

Tecumseh

d)

Chief Joseph

20.

What was also occurring during the time period shown on the graph?

a)

The size of buffalo herds was increasing

b)

Native American settlement was increasing

c)

The number of wheat farms was decreasing

d)

Native Americans' native land was decreasing