Answer Key Chapter Go West Young Man! Westward Expansion, 1840-1900

Answer Key Chapter: Go West Young Man! Westward Expansion, 1840-1900 1. Which of the following does not represent a group that participated significantly in westward migration after 1870? A. African American “exodusters” escaping racism and seeking economic opportunities B. former Southern slaveholders seeking land and new financial opportunities C. recent immigrants from Northern Europe and Canada D. recent Chinese immigrants seeking gold in California 2. Which of the following represents an action that the U.S. government took to help Americans fulfill the goal of western expansion? A. the passage of the Homestead Act B. the official creation of the philosophy of Manifest Destiny C. the development of stricter immigration policies D. the introduction of new irrigation techniques 3. Why and how did the U.S. government promote western migration in the midst of fighting the Civil War? 4. What specific types of hardships did an average American farmer not face as he built his homestead in the Midwest? A. droughts B. insect swarms C. attacks from Native Americans D. limited building supplies 5. What accounts for the success of large, commercial “bonanza farms?” What benefits did they enjoy over their smaller family-run counterparts? 6. How did everyday life in the American West hasten equality for women who settled the land? 7. Which of the following groups was not impacted by the invention of barbed wire? A. ranchers B. cowboys C. farmers D. illegal prostitutes 8. The American cowboy owes much of its model to what other culture? A. Mexicans B. Native Americans C. Northern European immigrants D. Chinese immigrants 9. How did mining and cattle ranching transform individual “get rich quick” efforts into “big business” efforts when the nineteenth century came to a close? 10. Which of the following was not a primary method by which the American government dealt with American Indians during the period of western settlement? A. relocation B. appeasement C. extermination D. assimilation 11. What brought the majority of Chinese immigrants to the U.S.? A. gold B. work opportunities on the railroads C. the Homestead Act D. Chinese benevolent associations 12. How were Hispanic citizens deprived of their wealth and land in the course of western settlement? A. Native American raids B. land seizures C. prisoner of war status D. infighting 13. Compare and contrast the treatment of Chinese immigrants and Hispanic citizens to that of Native Americans during the period of western settlement. Critical Thinking Questions 14. Describe the philosophy of Manifest Destiny. What effect did it have on Americans’ westward migration? How might the different groups that migrated have sought to apply this philosophy to their individual circumstances? 15. Compare the myth of the “Wild West” with its reality. What elements of truth would these stories have contained, and what was fabricated or left out? What was life actually like for cowboys, ranchers, and the few women present in mining towns or along the cattle range? 16. What were the primary methods that the U.S. government, as well as individual reformers, used to deal with the perceived Indian threat to westward settlement? In what ways were these methods successful and unsuccessful? What were their short-term and long-term effects on Native Americans? 17. Describe the ways in which the U.S. government, local governments, and/or individuals attempted to interfere with the specific cultural traditions and customs of Native Americans, Hispanics, and Chinese immigrants. What did these efforts have in common? How did each group respond? 18. In what ways did westward expansion provide new opportunities for women and African Americans? In what ways did it limit these opportunities? Answer Key 1. D. recent Chinese immigrants seeking gold in California 2. A. the passage of the Homestead Act 3. The U.S. government promoted western migration during the Civil War to stimulate economic growth, expand settlements, and solidify control over the region. This was achieved through legislation such as the Homestead Act, which offered free land to settlers, and the Pacific Railway Acts, which subsidized the construction of transcontinental railways. 4. C. attacks from Native Americans 5. Large, commercial "bonanza farms" were successful due to economies of scale, access to capital for investment in modern equipment and technology, and specialization in cash crops. They enjoyed benefits such as greater efficiency, higher productivity, and lower costs compared to smaller family-run farms. 6. Everyday life in the American West provided opportunities for women to engage in nontraditional roles such as managing farms or businesses, participating in civic activities, and advocating for social reforms. The frontier environment often necessitated shared responsibilities between men and women, leading to greater autonomy and equality for women. 7. D. illegal prostitutes 8. A. Mexicans 9. Mining and cattle ranching transformed individual "get rich quick" efforts into "big business" endeavors by attracting investment capital, organizing large-scale operations, and establishing corporate structures. The development of infrastructure such as railroads and telegraphs facilitated the growth of these industries, leading to the emergence of corporate enterprises dominating the market. 10. B. appeasement 11. B. work opportunities on the railroads 12. B. land seizures 13. During the period of western settlement, Native Americans, Hispanic citizens, and Chinese immigrants faced systemic discrimination, forced assimilation, and violence from the U.S. government and white settlers. Native Americans were subjected to relocation, extermination, and forced assimilation policies, resulting in the loss of their lands and traditional ways of life. Hispanic citizens experienced land seizures and legal discrimination, leading to the dispossession of their wealth and lands. Chinese immigrants faced restrictive laws, social prejudice, and violence, limiting their opportunities and rights in American society. Critical Thinking Questions 14. Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent, bringing civilization, democracy, and progress. It fueled westward migration by justifying territorial expansion, economic development, and the spread of American ideals. Different groups applied this philosophy to their circumstances by seeking opportunities for land ownership, economic prosperity, and cultural dominance in the West. 15. The myth of the "Wild West" often romanticized the rugged individualism, adventure, and freedom associated with frontier life, while downplaying the harsh realities of violence, exploitation, and social inequality. Cowboys and ranchers faced grueling work, isolation, and economic uncertainty, while women in mining towns endured hardship, discrimination, and limited opportunities for autonomy and independence. 16. The U.S. government and individual reformers used various methods to deal with the perceived Indian threat to westward settlement, including relocation to reservations, military force, assimilation through education and religious conversion, and treaties. These methods were often unsuccessful in achieving long-term peace and stability, leading to ongoing conflicts, dispossession of Native lands, and social upheaval. 17. Efforts to interfere with the cultural traditions and customs of Native Americans, Hispanics, and Chinese immigrants included forced assimilation through education, religious conversion, and legal discrimination. These efforts aimed to undermine the cultural identity and autonomy of marginalized groups, leading to resistance, activism, and cultural preservation efforts. 18. Westward expansion provided new opportunities for women and African Americans by offering access to land ownership, economic independence, and social mobility. Women engaged in homesteading, entrepreneurship, and activism, challenging traditional gender roles and advocating for women's rights. African Americans migrated west in search of land, employment, and freedom from racial oppression, contributing to the development of diverse communities and institutions. However, westward expansion also limited opportunities for women and African Americans through systemic discrimination, social inequality, and violence.