Westward Expansion: Economic Development - AP U.S. History
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What was the Dawes Act (1887) and its intended economic effect on Native landholding?
What was the Dawes Act (1887) and its intended economic effect on Native landholding?
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Allotted tribal lands to individuals to promote private farming and land sales. Broke up communal lands to assimilate natives into market economy.
Allotted tribal lands to individuals to promote private farming and land sales. Broke up communal lands to assimilate natives into market economy.
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What was the Desert Land Act (1877) intended to encourage economically in the arid West?
What was the Desert Land Act (1877) intended to encourage economically in the arid West?
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Irrigated farming by allowing purchase of arid land after irrigation improvements. Made desert land productive through irrigation infrastructure development.
Irrigated farming by allowing purchase of arid land after irrigation improvements. Made desert land productive through irrigation infrastructure development.
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What economic problem did the Timber Culture Act (1873) attempt to address on the Great Plains?
What economic problem did the Timber Culture Act (1873) attempt to address on the Great Plains?
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Lack of timber; offered land incentives for planting trees. Trees were needed for construction and windbreaks in treeless prairie regions.
Lack of timber; offered land incentives for planting trees. Trees were needed for construction and windbreaks in treeless prairie regions.
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What was the Morrill Land-Grant Act (1862), and how did it support economic development?
What was the Morrill Land-Grant Act (1862), and how did it support economic development?
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Granted land for colleges; expanded agricultural and mechanical education. Created agricultural colleges to teach scientific farming methods.
Granted land for colleges; expanded agricultural and mechanical education. Created agricultural colleges to teach scientific farming methods.
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What was the Comstock Lode (1859), and which industry did it most directly expand?
What was the Comstock Lode (1859), and which industry did it most directly expand?
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Major Nevada silver strike; accelerated western mining and investment. Rich silver deposits drew capital and workers to Nevada Territory.
Major Nevada silver strike; accelerated western mining and investment. Rich silver deposits drew capital and workers to Nevada Territory.
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What is a bonanza farm, and what western economic trend did it represent?
What is a bonanza farm, and what western economic trend did it represent?
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Large-scale commercial wheat farm; mechanized, market-oriented agriculture. Industrial farming using machinery to maximize profits on vast acreage.
Large-scale commercial wheat farm; mechanized, market-oriented agriculture. Industrial farming using machinery to maximize profits on vast acreage.
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What was the California Gold Rush (1848–1855), and what immediate economic effect did it have?
What was the California Gold Rush (1848–1855), and what immediate economic effect did it have?
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Mass migration for gold; rapid boomtown growth and Pacific trade expansion. 300,000+ fortune seekers created instant cities and shipping demand.
Mass migration for gold; rapid boomtown growth and Pacific trade expansion. 300,000+ fortune seekers created instant cities and shipping demand.
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What event in 1869 symbolized completion of the first transcontinental railroad?
What event in 1869 symbolized completion of the first transcontinental railroad?
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Golden Spike ceremony at Promontory Summit, Utah. Union Pacific met Central Pacific, linking East and West by rail.
Golden Spike ceremony at Promontory Summit, Utah. Union Pacific met Central Pacific, linking East and West by rail.
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Identify the key economic reason barbed wire spread in the 1870s–1880s on the Great Plains.
Identify the key economic reason barbed wire spread in the 1870s–1880s on the Great Plains.
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It enclosed land cheaply, ending open range and protecting crops and property. Cheap fencing allowed farmers to claim specific plots from open prairie.
It enclosed land cheaply, ending open range and protecting crops and property. Cheap fencing allowed farmers to claim specific plots from open prairie.
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What was the open-range cattle industry, and what innovation enabled long-distance sales?
What was the open-range cattle industry, and what innovation enabled long-distance sales?
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Ranching on public land; railroads and cattle drives to railheads enabled sales. Texas longhorns driven to Kansas rail towns for eastern markets.
Ranching on public land; railroads and cattle drives to railheads enabled sales. Texas longhorns driven to Kansas rail towns for eastern markets.
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Which option best describes how railroads changed the Plains economy: local barter or national markets?
Which option best describes how railroads changed the Plains economy: local barter or national markets?
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National markets. Rails connected isolated farmers to distant urban consumers.
National markets. Rails connected isolated farmers to distant urban consumers.
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Identify the main economic link between western mining booms and railroad expansion.
Identify the main economic link between western mining booms and railroad expansion.
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Railroads moved ore and supplies; mining traffic made lines profitable. Mines needed rails for equipment; railroads profited from ore shipments.
Railroads moved ore and supplies; mining traffic made lines profitable. Mines needed rails for equipment; railroads profited from ore shipments.
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What was the Dawes Act (1887) intended to do economically to Native landholding?
What was the Dawes Act (1887) intended to do economically to Native landholding?
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Allotted tribal lands to individuals; opened “surplus” land to settlers. Broke up reservations to promote farming and sell remaining acres.
Allotted tribal lands to individuals; opened “surplus” land to settlers. Broke up reservations to promote farming and sell remaining acres.
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What was the economic significance of the Erie Canal for western farmers and merchants?
What was the economic significance of the Erie Canal for western farmers and merchants?
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Lowered transport costs; linked Great Lakes trade to New York markets. Cut shipping time and costs from Midwest farms to Atlantic ports.
Lowered transport costs; linked Great Lakes trade to New York markets. Cut shipping time and costs from Midwest farms to Atlantic ports.
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What was the Market Revolution, and how did it shape the West’s economic growth?
What was the Market Revolution, and how did it shape the West’s economic growth?
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Shift to national market economy via transport, cash crops, and industry. Replaced subsistence farming with commercial production for distant buyers.
Shift to national market economy via transport, cash crops, and industry. Replaced subsistence farming with commercial production for distant buyers.
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What was the core economic purpose of the Louisiana Purchase (1803) for the United States?
What was the core economic purpose of the Louisiana Purchase (1803) for the United States?
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Secured Mississippi River and New Orleans trade routes for western commerce. Gave western farmers vital port access to export crops downstream.
Secured Mississippi River and New Orleans trade routes for western commerce. Gave western farmers vital port access to export crops downstream.
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What was the American System, and which economic tools did it promote for growth?
What was the American System, and which economic tools did it promote for growth?
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Tariff, national bank, and internal improvements to integrate the economy. Clay's plan unified regional economies through federal infrastructure spending.
Tariff, national bank, and internal improvements to integrate the economy. Clay's plan unified regional economies through federal infrastructure spending.
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What were internal improvements, and why were they important to western settlement?
What were internal improvements, and why were they important to western settlement?
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Roads, canals, and later railroads; connected farms to national markets. Government-funded infrastructure reduced isolation and shipping costs.
Roads, canals, and later railroads; connected farms to national markets. Government-funded infrastructure reduced isolation and shipping costs.
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What was the National Road (Cumberland Road), and what did it economically accomplish?
What was the National Road (Cumberland Road), and what did it economically accomplish?
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Federal highway linking East to Ohio Valley; boosted migration and trade. First federally funded road enabled wagon traffic over Appalachians.
Federal highway linking East to Ohio Valley; boosted migration and trade. First federally funded road enabled wagon traffic over Appalachians.
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What was the Gadsden Purchase (1854), and what economic goal did it support?
What was the Gadsden Purchase (1854), and what economic goal did it support?
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Acquired land for a southern transcontinental railroad route. Bought strip from Mexico to build railroad avoiding mountainous terrain.
Acquired land for a southern transcontinental railroad route. Bought strip from Mexico to build railroad avoiding mountainous terrain.
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What were railroad land grants, and how did they support western economic development?
What were railroad land grants, and how did they support western economic development?
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Federal land to railroads; sold to fund construction and spur settlement. Government gave alternating sections along rail routes to finance construction.
Federal land to railroads; sold to fund construction and spur settlement. Government gave alternating sections along rail routes to finance construction.
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What was the Comstock Lode (1859) and its broader economic impact on the West?
What was the Comstock Lode (1859) and its broader economic impact on the West?
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Major Nevada silver strike that fueled mining investment and boomtown growth. Rich silver deposits attracted capital and thousands of fortune seekers.
Major Nevada silver strike that fueled mining investment and boomtown growth. Rich silver deposits attracted capital and thousands of fortune seekers.
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What was the Great Plains wheat boom and its key economic driver in the late 1800s?
What was the Great Plains wheat boom and its key economic driver in the late 1800s?
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Rapid expansion of wheat farming driven by rail access and mechanization. New technology and transportation made Plains farming profitable.
Rapid expansion of wheat farming driven by rail access and mechanization. New technology and transportation made Plains farming profitable.
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What innovation most directly ended the open-range cattle era by restricting grazing land?
What innovation most directly ended the open-range cattle era by restricting grazing land?
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Barbed wire fencing. Cheap fencing allowed farmers to enclose land, ending free grazing.
Barbed wire fencing. Cheap fencing allowed farmers to enclose land, ending free grazing.
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What is the term for the large-scale cattle industry that expanded after the Civil War using open range?
What is the term for the large-scale cattle industry that expanded after the Civil War using open range?
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The cattle frontier (open-range ranching). Texas longhorns driven to rail heads for eastern markets after Civil War.
The cattle frontier (open-range ranching). Texas longhorns driven to rail heads for eastern markets after Civil War.
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What was the primary economic purpose of the Morrill Land-Grant Act (1862)?
What was the primary economic purpose of the Morrill Land-Grant Act (1862)?
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Fund state colleges to expand practical education in agriculture and mechanics. Promoted economic development through technical education and research.
Fund state colleges to expand practical education in agriculture and mechanics. Promoted economic development through technical education and research.
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What was the economic significance of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869?
What was the economic significance of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869?
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Linked national markets, lowered shipping costs, and accelerated western growth. Created a unified national economy and opened western resources to eastern markets.
Linked national markets, lowered shipping costs, and accelerated western growth. Created a unified national economy and opened western resources to eastern markets.
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What was the Pacific Railway Act (1862) designed to promote in western economic development?
What was the Pacific Railway Act (1862) designed to promote in western economic development?
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Construction of a transcontinental railroad via subsidies and land grants. Federal support enabled private companies to build costly infrastructure.
Construction of a transcontinental railroad via subsidies and land grants. Federal support enabled private companies to build costly infrastructure.
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What was the Interstate Commerce Act (1887) intended to regulate in the western economy?
What was the Interstate Commerce Act (1887) intended to regulate in the western economy?
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Railroad rates and discriminatory practices via the Interstate Commerce Commission. First federal attempt to control monopolistic railroad pricing practices.
Railroad rates and discriminatory practices via the Interstate Commerce Commission. First federal attempt to control monopolistic railroad pricing practices.
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What was the economic purpose of the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) in western labor markets?
What was the economic purpose of the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882) in western labor markets?
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Restricted Chinese immigration to reduce labor competition and wages pressure. Protected white workers' jobs and wages from cheaper immigrant labor.
Restricted Chinese immigration to reduce labor competition and wages pressure. Protected white workers' jobs and wages from cheaper immigrant labor.
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