Moving West
What were the reasons people moved West in the 1800s?
For land, gold, and economic opportunities
What transportation system connected the East and the West coasts of the U.S.?
The Transcontinental Railroad
What was a Cowboys main job?
To care for and move cattle.
How much land was each family offered for moving to the West?
160 Acres
Who lived on the land in the West before many settlers arrived?
Native Americans
What government program gave settlers the opportunity to own up to 160 acres of land?
The Homestead Act
Why was the railroad important to settlers moving West?
It made traveling faster, easier, and less expensive.
What is a Cattle Drive?
Moving large groups of cattle over long distances
Which state in the West had lots of gold?
California
How did Railroads help farmers?
They could ship crops quickly and to further distances to make money.
Describe Assimilation Schools. (What impact did it have on Native Americans?)
When lots of people moved to the West, towns begin to form and thrive. What was the name of those towns?
Boomtowns
What is the Dawes Act?
A law that made it legal for settlers to take control of land already occupied by Native Americans.
Name one job a person might have had in the West.
A farmer, miner, rancher, cowboy, or railroad worker.
How did Railroads affect Native Americans?
It brought more settlers onto their land and contributed to them losing their land.
What is the name given to the land that was "set aside" specifically for Native Americans. It is their protected land.
Reservation