Vocabulary
Define the vocabulary term: "Boomtowns"
Boomtowns: A town that grows rapidly without warning due to large and valuable findings within mining. There is both large economic and population growth.
What is the name of the 2,000 mile trail that many pioneer families took as they moved to the west?
What are the three main jobs in the west coast discussed in chapter 2?
Cowboys, Miners, Railroad Workers.
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The transcontinental railroad created both _____________ and _____________ growth in the west.
Economic and Population
Define the vocabulary term: "Transcontinental Railroad"
What was the main goal for the Lewis and Clark exploration?
They were sent by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the west. They were exploring the Louisiana Purchase and in search of river routes.
What was the most important and dangerous job that cowboys faced on the job?
Cattle Drives: Herding cattle for hundreds of miles to the north. This journey usually lasted several months.
What did the Homestead Act grant eligible American citizens?
Any small farmer who was 21 or older AND an American citizen could be eligible to receive 160 acres of land in the west. These citizens would have to promise the government that they would live there for a minimum of 5 years
True or False: People from all over the world not just the east coast moved to the west coast to become miners.
True
Define the vocabulary term: "Exodusters"
Exodusters: A large group of African Americans that left the south and moved west to escape the segregation and discrimination present in the southern states.
Why did thousands of Mormon families travel together and relocate to the west coast?
They were in search of religious freedom.
What two companies lead the race in building the transcontinental railroad?
The Union Pacific and the Central Pacific
What did the Morrill Act provide?
The Morrill Act provided over 17 million acres of land to states in the west. States then had to sell the land out and use the money to build colleges and educate on agriculture and engineering.
What were some of the common working conditions that miners faced in the west coast?
Unsafe equipment (elevator platforms without protective walls)
Dark tunnels and hot stuffy air
Explosions and Cave ins
Define the vocabulary term: "Pony Express"
It was very expensive
Shortages of food, supplies, and water
Rough weather
Geographic Barriers
The Union Pacific and the Central Pacific both hired thousands of immigrants to help build the transcontinental railroad. Who specifically did they hire?
Union--Irish Immigrants
Central--Chinese Immigrants
How did sodbusters get their nickname?
Sodbusters were farmers who would work very hard to break apart the sod in the ground. This job was very challenging for farmers.
During the building of the transcontinental railroad, both companies faced many ______________ challenges
geographic
Define the vocabulary term: "Comstock Lode"
Comstock Lode: A large amount of gold and silver was discovered by Henry Comstock in Nevada of 1859. This discovery brought thousands of miners to Nevada to search for gold and silver.
What are Mountain Men known for doing as they traveled west?
They were among the first to explore the Rocky Mountains
They would live lonely and dangerous lives
They became fur trappers (hunt and trapped animals)
The federal government passed the ________________ in 1862 and 1864 to pay for the construction costs of building the transcontinental railroad.
Pacific Railway Acts
What was the purpose of dry farming?
Farmers used this method of farming to create crops that did not depend on water. This was a benefit for farmers who did not have easy access to water due to location or drought.
How did the price of cattle vary from the west to other states in the east?
Cattle would range from $3-$6 in the west and would sell for up to $80 in the east.