West Video

What year did the transcontinental railroad construction begin as per President Lincoln's approval?

• 1865

• 1870

• 1863

• 1880

Who was called 'crazy Judah' due to his ambitious railroad engineering plans?

• Theodore Judah

• Richard Sears

• Joseph Glidden

• George Custer

What was the main reason for the construction of the transcontinental railroad?

• To increase tourism

• To transport gold

• To unite Eastern and Western North America

• To facilitate military movements

Which natural obstacle did the railroad builders face in the Sierra Nevada?

• Mountains

• Deserts

• Rivers

• Forests

What was the primary job of the Chinese laborers on the transcontinental railroad?

• Cooking and cleaning

• Security

• Excavating tunnels

• Surveying land

What was the fate of the buffalo herds by the late 19th century?

• They became domesticated

• They multiplied rapidly

• They were nearly extinct

• They were relocated to Canada

What invention by Joseph Glidden transformed the American West by making fencing cheaper and more effective?

• Stone walls

• Electric fence

• Barbed wire

• Wooden fence

What was the main impact of the transcontinental railroad on American society?

• Decreased trade

• Reduction in industrial activities

• Isolation of communities

• Increased urbanization and economic growth

What was the main use of buffalo hides by the late 19th century?

• Making clothing and shoes

• Building homes

• Crafting tools

• Fuel for fires

What was the primary purpose of constructing the Transcontinental Railroad?

• To provide a scenic route for travelers

• To increase communication speed

• To connect the eastern and western parts of the United States

• To transport gold from mines directly to cities