Inventors and Inventions
Who invented the telephone, improving communication across the U.S.?
Alexander Graham Bell
What man-made waterway improved trade between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans?
The Panama Canal
Immigrants from southern and eastern Europe mostly settled in what area of the U.S.?
Cities along the East Coast
The Spanish-American War began partly because of U.S. involvement in which country?
a. Cuba
b. Portugal
c. Mexico
d. Brazil
Cuba
Who invented the light bulb?
Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison brought this source of light into American homes.
Electric light (light bulb)
How did the Panama Canal help the U.S. economy?
It made trade and shipping faster and easier.
Chinese immigrants mostly settled in which region?
The West Coast
After the war, the U.S. gained new territories like Guam and the Philippines, showing what about America’s role?
a. they are imperialists
b. they became a world power
c. they can fight in war
d. they like to help other countries become free nations
they became a world power
What resource made Texas a center for ranching?
Cattle
Who helped farmers by creating new uses for crops like peanuts and sweet potatoes?
George Washington Carver
Which two cattle trails helped ranchers move cattle to northern markets?
Chisholm Trail and Great Western Trail
Why did industry (factories and production) grow in the Northeast in the late 1800s?
a. inventions were being created
b. immigration increased the labor force
c. children worked long hours in the factories
d. immigrants were discriminated against
Immigration increased the labor force (more workers=more production)
Which natural resource helped build homes, ships, and businesses across the South?
a. Cotton
b. Oil
c. Timber
d. Steel
Timber
Why was Kitty Hawk, NC, important to aviation?
It was where the Wright brothers flew their first airplane.
Which brothers are known for inventing the first successful airplane?
Orville and Wilbur Wright
How did the cattle trails help ranchers in Texas?
They increased profits by moving cattle to markets that paid higher prices.
What natural resource was most common in the southern U.S. during this time?
Timber
How did new inventions help industry grow?
a. they helped people see at night
b. they helped people work long hours
c. they helped the immigrants receive jobs
d. they made production faster and more efficient
They made production faster and more efficient.
Which U.S. region had the most factories during this time?
a. The South
b. The North
c. The Northeast
d. The Southwest
The Northeast
What city is famous for the Wright brothers’ first flight?
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina
The “Black Cowboys” were known for doing what?
Driving cattle across the Great Plains from Texas.
Which industry benefited most from Carver’s work?
a. Steel industry
b. Cattle industry
c. Agricultural industry
d. Oil industry
The agricultural industry
Why were inventions like the telephone, airplane, and Panama Canal all important to the nation’s growth during this period?
Each improved communication, transportation, or trade — helping the U.S. expand faster and connect people and markets worldwide.
What event helped the U.S. gain new lands and increase its global influence?
The Spanish-American War