Western Expansion Study-Guide
Name ____________________
(USII.2a, 4a, 1i)
1. Technological advances that aided settlement in the Great Plains included all of the following except:
a. electric light bulb
2. Which invention or technology made it possible to grow wheat on the Great Plains?
a. dry farming
3. Which crop grew best on the Great Plains?
a. wheat
4. Where on the Great Plains was there the most cattle ranching?
a. Texas
5. Which of the following features is not a feature that made the Great Plains difficult to farm?
a. cool temperatures in summer
6. Wheat farming on the Great Plains…
a. forced farmers to plant wheat differently.
7. The United States government’s main reason for putting the American Indians on reservations can best be
characterized as…
a. freeing up more land for the settlers to farm.
8. “…From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more.” This statement was made by…
a. Chief Joseph.
9. The Native Americans were forced to move from their homes and assimilate on the government-owned lands.
What was the name for these lands?
a. reservation
10. What was the name of the battle where Colonel Custer led his soldiers against the Lakota tribe?
a. Little Bighorn
11. Which of the following best describes why people went west?
a. opportunity for all
12. What is the main reason that people settled on the Great Plains?
a. the Homestead Act
13. One of the biggest impacts of cattle drives was…
a. the establishment of towns next to railroads in the Midwest
14. A major benefit of the transcontinental railroad was that…
a. supplies and mail moved more quickly and cheaply.
15. Which group did not benefit from westward expansion?
a. Native Americans (American Indians)
16. Cattle ranching on the Great Plains experienced a period of growth because of…
a. the expansion of railroads.
17. Boom towns were the result of…
a. people supporting the needs of miners.
18. The transcontinental railroad was built to link the Eastern and Western states.
19. Former slaves called themselves “exodusters” because they were on a journey to freedom.
20. Grade-Level Project Essay: Be able to explain how specific details from the painting (American Progress by John
Gast , 1872) reflect (or show) the ideas and experiences of different groups on the Great Plains.
21. Honors Project Essay: Identify the messages or big ideas about post-Civil War Western Expansion that the
painter is trying to get across. Explain how details in the painting support or reflect these messages.