Westward Expansion and Its Impacts

The video explores the final settlement of the American West in the 19th century, driven by the belief in manifest destiny. It discusses the push and pull factors of migration, the mining boom, the role of the transcontinental railroad, and the cattle industry's rise and fall. The impact on the American bison and the Homestead Act's land policies are highlighted. The video concludes with the farming frontier's adaptations, such as sod houses and dry farming, which enabled settlers to thrive in the Great Plains.

What was the belief that justified the westward expansion of the United States?

• Cultural Relativism

• Industrial Revolution

• American Isolationism

• Manifest Destiny

Which painting symbolizes the settlement and modernization of the American West?

• The Last Supper

• American Progress

• Starry Night

• The Persistence of Memory

What were the main reasons people migrated to the western United States in the 19th century?

• Technological advancements

• Cultural exchanges

• Climate change

• Push and pull factors

Which discovery attracted prospectors to the western United States during the mining boom?

• Gold and silver

• Natural gas

• Coal

• Oil

What was a significant pull factor for westward migration related to transportation?

• The development of air travel

• The invention of the automobile

• The construction of highways

• The completion of the transcontinental railroad

Which group of immigrants played a crucial role in building the transcontinental railroad?

• Chinese immigrants

• Irish immigrants

• Mexican immigrants

• German immigrants

What led to the decline of the cattle industry boom in the late 19th century?

• Government regulations

• Technological advancements

• Increased demand for beef

• Overgrazing and harsh weather conditions

What was the primary purpose of barbed wire in the farming frontier?

• To mark property boundaries

• To prevent soil erosion

• To keep cattle off fields and railroad tracks

• To support crop growth

What adaptation did settlers use to build homes on the Great Plains?

• Log cabins

• Sod houses

• Brick houses

• Stone cottages

Which farming technique was developed to preserve moisture in the dry soil of the Great Plains?

• Hydroponic farming

• Dry farming

• Irrigation farming

• Aquaponic farming