Vocabulary
Led or guided
What does escorted mean in the context of guides leading travelers on western trails?
Who is the main character in "Riding Freedom," and what job does she pursue?
Charlotte Parkhurst, stagecoach driver.
What physical challenge did Charlotte face after her accident?
She became partially blind, with only one good eye.
In what time period is "Riding Freedom" set?
The mid-1800s.
Where did Charlotte move to work as a stagecoach driver?
Near Sacramento, California.
Depended on, as they depended on found materials like sod.
What does relied mean, as used when describing the family building a house of sod?
Answer: They transported people, mail, and goods safely across long distances over dangerous land
Ask an appropriate question to fit this answer.
What important contribution did stagecoach drivers like Charlotte make in the 1800s?
How did Charlotte adapt to her vision loss to continue driving?
She trained her good eye to relearn how to drive a stagecoach.
What was the primary mode of long-distance travel in the 1800s before railroads and cars?
Stagecoaches.
What happened to the stagecoach the day after Charlotte’s accident?
She overturned it completely but jumped free.
What is a reputation, and how did a shop owner earn a good one in the lesson?
A reputation is how others view someone’s character or quality; a shop owner earned a good one when customers were happy.
How did Lucas contribute to the oil industry at Spindletop?
He drilled the Lucas Geyser, discovering a major oil field that produced 100,000 barrels per day.
What financial challenge did Lucas face while drilling at Spindletop?
He was running out of money and struggled to convince investors to fund his project.
Why did Charlotte have to disguise herself as a boy named Charley?
In the mid-1800s, women were not allowed to have paid jobs like stagecoach driving.
What major event occurred on January 10, 1901, at Spindletop?
The Lucas Geyser struck oil, blowing it over 150 feet in the air.
What does worthy mean when describing a plot of land, and why was the land considered valuable?
Worthy means valuable; the land was valuable due to its rich soil and access to water.
Why was Charlotte’s success as a stagecoach driver significant for women in the 1800s?
She overcame gender barriers by disguising herself as a man to work in a male-dominated job.
Describe the dangerous situation Charlotte faced at the river and how she solved it.
The river was swollen, and the bridge was unstable. She checked the bridge, escorted passengers across on foot, and drove the coach alone to ensure their safety.
What made the land around Spindletop valuable in the early 1900s?
The presence of oil, discovered in large quantities, made it valuable for industrial use.
Describe the critical moment when Charlotte drove the stagecoach across the bridge.
As the bridge began collapsing, she cracked her whip, urged the horses forward, and crossed just before the bridge fell into the river.
Explain the meaning of satisfied in the context of settlers’ lives in the West, and give an example of why some were content despite hardships.
Satisfied means content or pleased; some settlers were content because they valued the opportunities of their new life, like owning land or building a community, despite hard work and danger.
Compare the contributions of Charlotte Parkhurst and Lucas at Spindletop in terms of their impact on American growth.
Charlotte helped expand transportation and communication by driving stagecoaches, connecting people across the West. Lucas’s oil discovery at Spindletop fueled industrial growth by providing a major energy source.
How did Lucas overcome skepticism from businessmen to continue his Spindletop project, and what was the outcome?
He defended his ideas about salt domes and oil, convincing investors to fund him. This led to the discovery of the Lucas Geyser, producing 100,000 barrels of oil per day.
How did the lack of modern infrastructure in the mid-1800s affect stagecoach travel, and how does this contrast with the impact of Spindletop’s oil discovery on later industrial development?
In the 1800s, stagecoach travel was slow and dangerous due to bumpy dirt roads and rickety bridges, limiting connectivity. Spindletop’s oil discovery in 1901 provided fuel for modern machinery and vehicles, enabling faster industrial growth and transportation advancements.
How did the passengers react after Charlotte saved them from the collapsing bridge, and what did this mean for her career?
Passengers praised her, with one saying she saved his life, and James’s approval ensured she would continue driving without question.