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Questions and Answers
What impact will westward expansion have on the physical environment of the West?
What impact will westward expansion have on the physical environment of the West?
Destruction of environment, creation of the dust bowl, extinction of plant and animal species
What were the important trails during westward expansion?
What were the important trails during westward expansion?
Who had more freedom during westward expansion?
Who had more freedom during westward expansion?
African Americans, females, and lower classes
What does Manifest Destiny refer to?
What does Manifest Destiny refer to?
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What was the Homestead Act?
What was the Homestead Act?
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What was the Morrill Land Grant Act?
What was the Morrill Land Grant Act?
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What did the Pacific Railway Act provide?
What did the Pacific Railway Act provide?
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How many companies were given charge to build the transcontinental railroad?
How many companies were given charge to build the transcontinental railroad?
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Where did the Union Pacific start and how much track was laid?
Where did the Union Pacific start and how much track was laid?
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Where did the Central Pacific start and how much track was laid?
Where did the Central Pacific start and how much track was laid?
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Who worked on the transcontinental railway?
Who worked on the transcontinental railway?
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When was the transcontinental railway finished?
When was the transcontinental railway finished?
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What were the pros of the railroad?
What were the pros of the railroad?
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What were the cons of the railroad?
What were the cons of the railroad?
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Study Notes
Impact of Westward Expansion
- Led to environmental destruction, including the creation of the Dust Bowl.
- Caused the extinction of various plant and animal species.
Important Trails
- Key routes included the Oregon Trail, California Trail, and Bozeman Trail.
Freedom During Expansion
- African Americans, females, and lower-class individuals experienced increased freedom.
Manifest Destiny
- Concept articulated by John O'Sullivan in 1839, suggesting divine approval for westward expansion.
Homestead Act
- Provided 160 acres of land at no cost to settlers who lived on it for five years.
Morrill Land Grant Act
- Federal law granting 17 million acres of land to states for agricultural and engineering colleges, primarily in the West.
Pacific Railway Act
- Allocated land to two railroad companies to construct a line connecting the East and West coasts amid the Civil War.
Transcontinental Railroad Construction
- Two companies were tasked with building the transcontinental railroad.
Union Pacific Railroad
- Laid 1,087 miles of track, beginning in Omaha and moving westward.
Central Pacific Railroad
- Laid 690 miles of track, starting in Sacramento and moving east; construction faced challenges due to mountain ranges.
Workforce on the Railroad
- More than 10,000 workers, including Chinese laborers, Irish immigrants, Civil War veterans, and freedmen, contributed to construction.
Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad
- Finished on May 10, 1869, at Promontory Point, Utah.
Advantages of the Railroad
- Facilitated faster, cheaper transportation of goods and people, improved economic conditions, accelerated westward settlement, and created job opportunities.
Disadvantages of the Railroad
- Resulted in the destruction of Native American cultures, significant decline of the buffalo population, economic challenges, environmental damage, and hazardous working conditions.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the Westward Expansion in American history with this quiz. Explore the environmental impacts, important trails, and social dynamics of the period. Perfect for APUSH students preparing for exams.
