Transcontinental Railroad and Related Historical Events Quiz

Why was the Transcontinental Railroad unique?

• It was the first railroad in Europe.

• It connected the East and West coasts of the USA.

• It was built entirely by one company.

• It was the shortest railroad in the world.

Who built the Transcontinental Railroad?

• Only American workers

• A single private company

• Multiple companies and immigrant workers

• The government alone

Where was the Transcontinental Railroad built?

• Across the northern states

• Across the southern states

• Across the central United States

• Only in California

What was one effect of the Transcontinental Railroad?

• Decreased migration to the West

• Increased trade and settlement

• Isolation of the East Coast

• Decline in railroad technology

Describe the Homestead Act.

• It provided free land to settlers.

• It restricted land ownership to the wealthy.

• It was a tax on homesteads.

• It was a law to protect wildlife.

Who fought in the Range Wars?

• Farmers and miners

• Cowboys and Native Americans

• Ranchers and farmers

• Railroad workers and settlers

Who won the Range Wars?

• Farmers

• Ranchers

• Native Americans

• Railroad companies

What was the importance of cattle drives?

• They were a form of entertainment.

• They helped transport cattle to market.

• They were a method of farming.

• They were used to clear land.

Who were the Sodbusters?

• Railroad workers

• Farmers who plowed the plains

• Cowboys

• Gold miners

What was another invention that helped during this period?

• The light bulb

• The barbed wire

• The automobile

• The telephone