Exploiting Economic Opportunity in the American West 1820-1880
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(1) How did fur trappers, better known as mountain men, contribute to the expansion of the West?
(2) How did technological developments in mining, farming, etc. help Americans to take economic advantage of the West?
(3) How did technology create environmental problems during the development of the American West?
(4) How did the Gold Rush of 1849 impact the people of California?
(5) Determine the significance of the Gold Rush on American expansion.
(6) Did miners exploit the environment?
(7) Did the economic benefits for the American frontiersman, cowboy, miner, farmer, and fur trader make the exploitation worthwhile?
(8) Why was the cattle industry important to the American people?
(9) What problems were created by the "open range" and the "long drive"?
(10) How important were the railroads to the cattle industry?
(11) What caused the demise of the cowboys and the cattle drive?
(12) What were the pros and cons of the railroads expanding across America?
(13) How significant was the Transcontinental Railroad to American expansion?
(14) What problems did Farmers or "sodbusters" face on the Great Plains?
(15) Can exploitation of the western lands environment be justified? (One page essay)
(16) How does this topic relate to modern times?
Vocabulary
APPARMSQ
The Railway
The railroads were very important because it was the most used means of transport and the best because of the technological restraints at the time. Also it was the fastest way to get cattle from texas all the way to the Eastern states.