#1
Which event prompted the beginning of the Westward Expansion in the United States?
The Louisiana Purchase
ExplanationPurchase of French territory doubled U.S. size, opening vast western lands.
#2
Who was the President of the United States during the Louisiana Purchase?
Thomas Jefferson
ExplanationThird U.S. President who negotiated the Louisiana Purchase.
#3
Who were the 'Forty-Niners' during the Westward Expansion?
Pioneers who traveled to California in search of gold
ExplanationGold seekers who rushed to California during the Gold Rush.
#4
Which trail was used primarily by traders to transport goods between Missouri and Santa Fe during the Westward Expansion?
The Santa Fe Trail
ExplanationMajor trade route linking Missouri and New Mexico.
#5
Who coined the term 'Manifest Destiny'?
John L. O'Sullivan
ExplanationJournalist who popularized belief in America's divine destiny to expand.
#6
Which region was referred to as the 'Great American Desert' by early explorers and settlers?
The Great Plains
ExplanationInitially seen as inhospitable, later became vital to U.S. agriculture.
#7
What was the primary mode of transportation for settlers during the Westward Expansion period?
Wagons
ExplanationWagons carried settlers and supplies across long distances.
#8
Which Native American tribe was forcibly relocated along the Trail of Tears during the Westward Expansion?
Cherokee
ExplanationCherokee endured forced removal from Southeast to Indian Territory.
#9
What was the significance of the Oregon Trail during the Westward Expansion?
It provided a route for settlers moving to the Pacific Northwest
ExplanationMajor route for pioneers seeking new opportunities in the West.
#10
Which territory did the United States acquire as a result of the Oregon Treaty with Britain in 1846?
Oregon
ExplanationU.S. gained Oregon Territory up to 49th parallel, avoiding war.
#11
Which invention significantly accelerated transportation and communication during the Westward Expansion?
The telegraph
ExplanationRevolutionized long-distance communication, connecting East and West.
#12
What was the main cause of conflict between Native American tribes and settlers during the Westward Expansion?
Land ownership and encroachment
ExplanationDisputes over land rights and settlers' expansion onto tribal lands.
#13
Which treaty ended the Mexican-American War and ceded territories including California and New Mexico to the United States?
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
ExplanationEnded war, granted U.S. vast Mexican territories for $15 million.
#14
What was the significance of the Homestead Act of 1862 during the Westward Expansion?
It provided free land to settlers who agreed to farm it for five years
ExplanationOffered free land in West, encouraging settlement and agriculture.
#15
What was the outcome of the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890?
Hundreds of Lakota Sioux were killed by the U.S. Army
ExplanationTragic event where U.S. troops massacred Lakota Sioux, ending resistance.
#16
What impact did the completion of the transcontinental railroad have on the Westward Expansion?
It facilitated faster and easier travel across the country
ExplanationRevolutionized transportation, connecting East and West coasts.
#17
Who were the 'Exodusters'?
African Americans who migrated to the Great Plains in the late 19th century
ExplanationFormer slaves who migrated West seeking land and freedom.
#18
Who were the 'Buffalo Soldiers'?
African American soldiers who served in the U.S. Army on the Western frontier
ExplanationAfrican American cavalry units who served on the Western frontier.