Westward Expansion — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The Transcontinental Railroad was completed in the year 1869.
The Transcontinental Railroad was completed on May 10, 1869 when the Union Pacific and Central Pacific met at Promontory Summit, Utah.
2. The two railroad companies were Union Pacific and Central Pacific.
Union Pacific built westward from Omaha, Nebraska while Central Pacific built eastward from Sacramento, California.
3. The railroads met at Promontory Summit in the state of Utah.
The ceremonial 'Golden Spike' was driven at Promontory Summit, Utah on May 10, 1869.
4. Chinese and Irish immigrants did much of the railroad construction work.
Chinese immigrants built much of the Central Pacific's eastern route; Irish immigrants built much of the Union Pacific's route.
5. The Cherokee were forced to walk the Trail of Tears in 1838.
The Trail of Tears (1838) was the forced removal of the Cherokee Nation. About 4,000 Cherokee died on the march.
6. Native Americans were forced to live on areas called reservations.
Reservations were designated areas of land to which Native Americans were confined after being displaced from their homelands.
7. Westward expansion led to the destruction of buffalo herds on the plains.
Settlers and hunters nearly wiped out the American bison (buffalo), destroying the food source that Native Plains tribes depended on.
8. The Indian Removal Act forced tribes to move west of the Mississippi River.
The Indian Removal Act required Native Americans living east of the Mississippi to relocate to 'Indian Territory' west of the river.
9. The Oklahoma Land Rush took place in the year 1889.
The Oklahoma Land Run (April 22, 1889) opened unassigned lands in Indian Territory to settlers who 'ran' to claim plots.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
Trail of Tears
→ Cherokee forced march
free land for farmers
Promontory Summit
→ railroads joined here
California gold seekers
Homestead Act
→ free land for farmers
Cherokee forced march
49ers
→ California gold seekers
railroads joined here
Trail of Tears=Cherokee forced march(idx2); Promontory Summit=railroads joined here(idx3); Homestead Act=free land for farmers(idx0); 49ers=California gold seekers(idx1)