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West

Total questions: 117

Worksheet time: 1hrs 8mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Allowed farmers to keep cattle from nearby ranches off their fields and away from their crops.

a)

steel plow

b)

barbed wire

c)

windmill

d)

sod house

2.

Over hunting reduced the American Buffalo population from 30 million to __________ in a little over a decade.

a)

85

b)

850

c)

8,500

d)

85,000

3.

City where both lines of the Transcontinental Railroad met to complete construction

a)

Omaha, Nebraska

b)

Sacramento,California

c)

Promontory, Utah

4.

The Transcontinental Railroad reduced the time it took to travel across the United States from 6 months to _______

a)

6 weeks

b)

6 days

c)

3 weeks

d)

3 days

5.

Leader of the Nez Perce who fled to Canada to avoid life on a reservation before being captured.

“I will fight no more forever.”

a)

Geronimo

b)

Sitting Bull

c)

Chief Joseph

6.

Which of the following was NOT part of the physical environment of the Great Plains?

a)

land eroded by wind and water

b)

forests

c)

low rainfall

d)

frequent dust storms

7.

The Homestead Act was written to encourage people to

a)

move to eastern cities

b)

mine and raise cattle in the west

c)

settle and farm western lands

d)

avoid border conflicts with Mexico

8.

Which of the following was NOT A MAJOR result of the Homestead Act?

a)

increased conflict between settlers and Native Americans

b)

increased westward migration

c)

protection of the rights of Native Americans

d)

opening up the frontier to farming and ranching

9.

Many farmers built their homes from sod. What answer BEST describes sod?

a)

branches and clay

b)

iron and wood

c)

grass and mud

d)

curried buffalo hide

10.

The building of the transcontinental railroad resulted in all of the following EXCEPT

a)

protection of sacred Indian lands

b)

farmers could get their crops to market

c)

creation of time zone

d)

ranchers could get their cattle to slaughter houses in the east

11.

What was the MAIN reason the government wanted Native Americans on reservations

a)

to keep them from starving

b)

to take their land

c)

to preserve the remaining buffalo

d)

to teach them new skills

12.

the battle that marked the defeat of General Custer and the U.S. Army

a)

Little Big Horn

b)

Sand Creek

c)

Wounded Knee

d)

Horseshoe Bend

13.

One of the MAJOR factors contributing to the destruction of the way of life of the Plains Indians was the

a)

movement of freed slaves to the west

b)

industrialization of the major cities in the west

c)

slaughter of the buffalo herds

d)

discovery of gold and silver deposit

14.

The killing of 200 men, women, and children that ended armed resistance in the west

a)

Wounded Knee Massacre

b)

Battle of Little Big Horn

c)

Battle of the Sioux

d)

Sand Creek Massacre

15.

Apache leader who refused to go to live on a reservation, attacked settlers in Arizona and New Mexico and successfully evaded capture for 10 years

a)

Crazy Horse

b)

Sitting Bull

c)

Chief Joseph

d)

Geronimo

16.

Which of the following factors BEST explains the increase of population west of the Mississippi River after the Civil War?

a)

improved methods of transportation

b)

withdraw of the troops from the South

c)

the passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments

d)

development of factories in the South

17.

Which of the following best describes the landscape of the Great Plains

a)

relatively flat land and covered by prairie grasses

b)

relatively flat land and covered by dense forest

c)

mountainous land with many canyons

d)

mountainous land with little vegetation

18.

What was the most important natural resource for the Plains Native Americans?

a)

Buffalo

b)

Fish

c)

Grass or sod

d)

Trees

19.

Most Plains tribes celebrated with this ceremony before the buffalo hunt.

a)

Pow wow

b)

Potlatch

c)

Sun Dance

d)

Kiva

20.

Tribes that lived on the ____________ ________________ were mainly hunters.

a)

Central Plains/Eastern Plains

b)

Great Plains/Western Plains

21.

This is a layer of soil held together by the roots of grasses.

a)

Sod

b)

Travois

c)

Kiva

d)

Pemmican

22.

Dried buffalo meat and berries mixed together that was eaten on the Plains is called...

a)

Pemmican

b)

Palisades

c)

Potlatch

d)

Pueblo

23.

A group of leaders who meet to make decisions are a ....

a)

Palisade

b)

Pemmican

c)

Ceremony

d)

Council

24.
Identify the Great Plains region using the map
a)
Green
b)
Yellow
c)
Pink
d)
Blue
25.
The Great Plains Native Americans often hunted big game on horseback. Their weapon of choice was
a)
Shell spear
b)
Wooden spear
c)
Bow and arrow
d)
Lasso 
26.

The area of America from the Missouri River to the Rocky Mountains. The land was mostly flat and grasslands.

a)

Great Plains

b)

frontier

c)

homestead

d)

Sitting Bull

27.

A town the has a sudden burst of population growth due to the gold rush.

a)

homestead

b)

frontier

c)

boomtown

d)

Great Plains

28.

Taking cattle by foot to the railroads for further transport

a)

long drive

b)

homestead

c)

buffalo soldier

d)

frontier

29.

A cowboy that came from Mexico with the Spanish during the 1500s

a)

buffalo soldier

b)

vigilante

c)

vaquero

d)

Sitting Bull

30.

A person who takes the law into his/her own hand

a)

vaquero

b)

vigilante

c)

Exoduster

d)

buffalo soldier

31.

Land set aside by the U.S. Government for Native American tribes

a)

boomtown

b)

reservation

c)

frontier

d)

Great Plains

32.

1864 - attack where U.S. troops killed more than 150 Cheyenne men, women, and children

a)

Sand Creek Massacre

b)

Wounded Knee Massacre

c)

Battle of Little Bighorn

d)

Great Plains Disaster

33.

Sioux chief who tried to fight back against American settlers who were intruding on his tribal lands

a)

Vaquero

b)

Sitting Bull

c)

Buffalo Soldier

d)

Boomtown

34.

1876 - Sioux and Cheyenne forces wipe out an entire force of U.S. troops

a)

Sand Creek Massacre

b)

Wounded Knee Massacre

c)

Battle of Little Bighorn

d)

Battle of Gettysburg

35.

1890 - U.S. soldiers massacre over 300 unarmed Native Americans at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota.

a)

Sand Creek Massacre

b)

Battle of Little Bighorn

c)

Wounded Knee Massacre

d)

Battle of Shiloh

36.

Land to settle on and farm

a)

frontier

b)

homestead

c)

Great Plains

d)

farmland

37.

A name given to African Americans serving in the army in the West by Native Americans

a)

Exoduster

b)

buffalo soldier

c)

vaquero

d)

boomtown

38.

The Great Plains are located between the Missouri River and the

a)

Pacific Ocean

b)

Rocky Mountains

c)

state of California

d)

Atlantic Ocean

39.

An African American who left the South for the West to get land to farm on

a)

vaquero

b)

buffalo soldier

c)

Exoduster

d)

frontier

40.
What development helped Americans expand westward?
a)
transcontinental railroad
b)
automobiles
c)
industrialization
d)
Native American expansion
41.
The ________________ was a law in 1860 that offered acres of land to anyone who agreed to live on and improve the land for 5 years.
a)
Dawes Act
b)
Meeting at Promontory Point
c)
Homestead Act
d)
boom town
42.
Which did not happen to Plains Indians as a result of westward expansion? 
a)
they were put on reservations
b)
tribes were massacred by the military
c)
they were forced to sign treaties
d)
they were given political power
43.
_______________ were African Americans who took advantage of the Homestead Act
a)
exodusters
b)
vaqueros
c)
sodbusters
d)
grangers
44.
The ___________________ Railroad started in New York and was built by Irish immigrants.
a)
Transcontinental
b)
Union
c)
Pacific
d)
Pomontory Point
45.
Battle of 1876 in which Sioux and Cheyenne tribes killed an entire force of US troops.
a)
Battle of Little Bighorn
b)
Sand Creek Massacre
c)
Meeting at Promontory Point
d)
Wounded Knee Massacre
46.
This is where the Union and Pacific railroads met.
a)
Promontory Point
b)
Sand Creek
c)
Little Bighorn
d)
Wounded Knee
47.
______________ was an invention used to keep cattle in one area.
a)
sodbuster
b)
steel plow
c)
barbed wire
d)
free silver
48.
This law in 1887 divided Native American reservations into plots for Native American families to farm.
a)
Dawes Act
b)
Homestead Act
c)
Battle of Little Bighorn
d)
Meeting at Promontory Point
49.
Bankers and industry wanted the government to back up money with _______________.
a)
gold
b)
silver
c)
sod
d)
steel
50.
Farmers and grangers wanted the government to back up money with _______________.
a)
gold
b)
silver
c)
sod
d)
steel
51.
Another word for cowhand is _____________.  These Americans were taught how to handle cattle.
a)
vaquero
b)
vigilante
c)
sodbuster
d)
granger
52.

Most of the gold was found:

a)

in underground lodes

b)

on the surface

c)

in a river

d)

the mountain

53.

In 1858, a mining expedition found gold where in Colorado?

a)

Rocky Mountains

b)

Appalachian Mountains

c)

Pikes Peak

d)

Widows Peak

54.

What were Boomtowns?

a)

towns that took a year to establish

b)

towns that grew up almost overnight

c)

towns that were not successful

d)

towns that were for rich people

55.

The word Vigilante means:

a)

people who didn't obey the law

b)

people who obeyed the law

c)

individuals who stayed far away from the law

d)

individuals who took justice (the law) into their own hands

56.

How much was The Comstock Lode worth?

a)

$300 million dollars

b)

$100 million dollars

c)

$200 million dollars

d)

$700 million dollars

57.

Comstock Lode was founded by:

a)

William Comstock

b)

Henry Comstock

c)

Carson Comstock

d)

General Comstock

58.

In 1883, the railroad companies divided the country into how many time zones?

a)

one

b)

two

c)

three

d)

four

59.

The two sets of tracks met where?

a)

Promontory Point, Utah

b)

Salt Lake City, Utah

c)

Sacramento, California

d)

Los Angeles, California

60.

In 1858, a mining expedition found gold where in Colorado?

a)

Sutters Mill

b)

Rocky Mountains

c)

Pikes Peak

d)

Comstock Lode

61.

Henry Comstock discovered _______ ore at the Comstock Lode, NV.

a)

Zinc

b)

Silver

c)

Gold

d)

Coal

62.

Who did the Pacific Union rely on to help build the railroad?

a)

Indians

b)

French and Irish

c)

Irish and African Americans

d)

Chinese

63.

What is ore?

a)

Any type of rock

b)

Rock that is not worth anything

c)

Rock that is worth something

d)

Rock found in rivers

64.

Where was gold first discovered in California?

a)

Sutters Mill, California

b)

Omaha, Nebraska

c)

Sacramento, California

d)

Comestock Lode, Nevada

65.

The __________________________ company began building the railroad in California.

a)

Central Pacific

b)

Union Pacific

66.
How did the Transcontinental impact the natural environment?
a)
the trained ripped up the sod on the plains
b)
mining for coal, pollution, and blasting through mountains impacted the environment.
c)
mining for gold, building large trestles, and avalanches impacted the environment
d)
shipping crops East and fencing off farm land impacted the environment
67.

Led by John Chivington to attack and kill over 400 Cheyenne and Arapaho, 2/3 of which were women and children.

a)

Sand Creek Massacre

b)

Red Cloud's War

c)

Sioux War

d)

Fetterman Massacre

68.

Began when members of the Lakota, Cheyenne,and Arapaho raided Ft. Kearney in retaliation for an attack and to obtain supplies they badly needed.

a)

Sand Creek Massacre

b)

Red Cloud's War

c)

Fetterman Massacre

d)

Sioux War

69.

American soldiers led an attack on Indians and were ambushed, which led to a public call for reassessment of Indian policy.

a)

Sand Creek Massacre

b)

Red Cloud's War

c)

Fetterman Massacre

d)

Sioux War

70.

The last series of battles to determine the status of natives in the west, which were mostly American victories.

a)

Sand Creek Massacre

b)

Red Cloud's War

c)

Fetterman Massacre

d)

Sioux War

71.

This began when Custer attacked even though he had been ordered to scout and not engage. It resulted in a massive American defeat that has been romanticized by many.

a)

Battle of Wounded Knee

b)

Battle of Little Bighorn

72.

The last major clash between natives and the US that ended both the Ghost Dance Movement and resistance by Native Americans in the west, helping to close the western frontier.

a)

Battle of Wounded Knee

b)

Battle of Little Bighorn

73.

Why were the plains Indians nomadic?

a)

They wintered in the southern plains and summered in the northern plains.

b)

They were slash and burn farmers.

c)

They followed the prairie dog colonies.

d)

They followed the buffalo herds.

74.

The story of Comstock Lode took place near an outpost called ______.

a)

Virginia City

b)

Las Vegas

c)

Comstock City

d)

Carson City

75.

Henry Comstock discovered a sticky blue mud in Six Mile Canyon that turned out to be nearly pure ______.

a)

gold

b)

oil

c)

silver

d)

copper

76.

The trend in the West was...

a)

from boomtown to outpost to ghost town.

b)

from ghost town to outpost to boomtown.

c)

from outpost to boomtown to ghost town.

d)

from outpost to ghost town to boomtown.

77.

The first reservation created by the U.S. government in 1834 confined the Native Americans to ______.

a)

the Dakota territory

b)

the Great Plains

c)

Colorado

d)

the Wyoming territory

78.

The Sand Creek Massacre involved a fight between the Colorado volunteers and the ______ nation.

a)

Cheyenne

b)

Sioux

c)

Camanche

d)

Navajo

79.

During the Sand Creek Massacre, _____ led the Colorado volunteer militia.

a)

Henry Comstock

b)

Ulysses S. Grant

c)

Robert Weaver

d)

John Chivington

80.

The Sioux were upset because...

a)

the U.S. government were allowing settlers to kill off the buffalo herds.

b)

the railroads were building through their territory.

c)

settlers were using the Bozeman Trail.

d)

miners were looking for gold in the Black Hills.

81.

In a skirmish between Crazy Horse and the U.S. military, the Sioux nation killed an entire detachment resulting in the _______.

a)

Sand Creek Massacre

b)

Chivington Massacre

c)

Fetterman's Massacre

d)

Wounded Knee Massacre

82.
How long did the Sun Dance ritual last?
a)
3 days
b)
4 days
c)
1 week
d)
2 weeks
83.
Why was life particularly difficult for Native Americans on the Oklahoma reservation?
a)
Poor Soil
b)
Tornadoes
c)
Roving packs of dogs
d)
Thunderstorms 
84.
When was the Fort Laramie Treaty signed?
a)
1847
b)
1851
c)
1857
d)
1860
85.
Who introduced horses to the North American continent?
a)
French
b)
British
c)
Spanish
d)
Portuguese
86.
A gold strike in 1859 brought miners where?
a)
Black Hills
b)
Pike's Peek
c)
Mt. McKinley
d)
Roger's Peek
87.
In many Native American villages, what were women not in charge of?
a)
Tanning hides
b)
Hunting
c)
Making the teepee
d)
Cooking
88.
How many women and children were killed in the Sand Creek Massacre?
a)
109
b)
115
c)
127
d)
130
89.
In the Sand Creek Massacre, how many Native Americans died? 
a)
122
b)
137
c)
140
d)
55
90.
How many soldiers died in the Sand Creek Massacre?
a)
None
b)
Four
c)
Six
d)
Ten
91.
What battle helped "ignite an era of war?"
a)
Battle of Wounded Knee
b)
Battle of Little Big Horn
c)
Sand Creek Massacre
d)
Fetterman Massacre
92.
Southern Plains nations like the Kiowas, Arapaho and what other tribe were moved to reservations in Oklahoma?
a)
Apache
b)
Commanche
c)
Sioux
d)
Blackfoot
93.
Who attacked a group of Native Americans against orders?
a)
Col. Chivington
b)
Col. Custer
c)
General Lyon
d)
Lt. Col. Fetterman
94.
Who is the chief who would rather run with his tribe to Canada rather than be put on a reservation?
a)
Chief Geronimo
b)
Chief Sitting Bull
c)
Chief Crazy Horse
d)
Chief Joseph
95.

This act passed by the United States state of California in 1850, imposed a tax of $20/month on foreign miners

a)

Foreign Miner's Tax

b)

Immigrant Tax

c)

Slave Tax

d)

Gold Rush Tax

96.

Who made the most money during the Gold Rush?

a)

Jewelers

b)

Miners

c)

Immigrants

d)

Merchants

97.
A major cause of antagonism toward the “new immigrants” who came to the United States after 1880 was the belief that they...
a)
were better educated than native-born Americans
b)
had a higher standard of living than most Americans
c)
adapted easily to American culture
d)
competed with Americans for jobs as unskilled laborers
98.
During the late 1800's, an open immigration policy was most strongly supported by...
a)
abolitionists
b)
yellow journalists
c)
conservationists
d)
industrialists
99.
19th century Chinese immigrants are known for what?
a)
Work in building the Transcontinental Railroad
b)
Work in New York factories
c)
Contributions to the steel industry
d)
Contributions to John D. Rockefeller
100.
Chinese and Irish immigrants were instrumental in the construction of
a)
the transcontinental railroad
b)
the St. Louis Arch
c)
highways to the west
d)
gold and silver mines
101.
Passed in 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act did what?
a)
closed America to Chinese immigrants for the next ten years
b)
welcomed more Chinese immigrants to America to perform hard work
c)
allowed Chinese immigrants, but only under a very strict set of rules
d)
closed America to Chinese immigrants for three years then allowed a few at a time
102.
The expansion of the U.S. westward led to the creation of 
a)
additional internet transmission
b)
time zones
c)
mobile communication towers
d)
more cattle drives
103.
This law specifically barred Chinese laborers from entering the US, and was in place for more than 60 years.
a)
The Chinese Exclusion Act
b)
The Ban on Foreign Labor Act
c)
The Asian Immigration Act
d)
The Chinese Labor Law
104.
Which of the following was a major problem immigrants experienced once arriving to the United States?
a)
Discrimination based on nationality
b)
Unsanitary and unsafe living conditions
c)
Political corruption from certain politicians
d)
All of the above
105.

What group of immigrants were arriving in large numbers on the West Coast in the middle to late 1800's?

a)

Greek

b)

Chinese

c)

British

d)

French

106.
Which idea led to a rise in anti-immigrant groups and a demand for immigration restrictions?
a)
Melting Pot
b)
Birds of Passage
c)
Nativism
d)
All of the above
107.
What act gave any American 160 acres of land for free to anyone who claimed it?
a)
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
b)
The Chinese Exclusion Act
c)
The Quartering Act
d)
The Homestead Act
108.
In 1859 gold was discovered on
a)
Pike's Peak
b)
Mt. McKinnley
c)
Yosimite
d)
Mt. Rogers
109.
Largest deposit of silver found in the U.S.
a)
Comstock lode
b)
Black Hills
c)
Blue Ridge
d)
Mt. Rushmore
110.
How did ranchers get cattle to market in the U.S. before the use of trains
a)
Cattle drive
b)
Spring Round-up
c)
Ships
d)
Branding
111.
rangeland where cattle roam freely regardless of land ownership.
a)
Open range
b)
Closed range
112.
Which Act of Congress allow settlers to acquire 160 acres of land at a low cost
a)
Homestead Act
b)
Agricultural Act
c)
Land-Grant College Act
d)
Oklahoma settlement Act
113.
What is the Great American Desert?
a)
Great Plains
b)
Southwest U.S.
c)
Texas
d)
Alaska
114.
Who wrote "Century of Dishonor"?
a)
Helen Hunt Jackson
b)
Fredrick Jackson Turner
c)
Harriet Beecher Stowe
d)
John L. O'Sullivan
115.
Who said, "The Frontier is closed"?
a)
Fredrick Jackson Turner
b)
Harriet Beecher Stowe
c)
Helen Hunt Jackson
d)
Fredrick Douglas
116.
People's Party
a)
Populists
b)
Greenback
c)
Republicans
d)
Democrats
117.
Coxey's Army demanded
a)
massive public works program
b)
end to slavery
c)
mass irrigation in Texas
d)
end animal cruelty

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