U.S. Expansion Westward: Objectives
After you have completed this section, you will be able to:
- Trace the building of the Transcontinental Railroad and the contribution of the workers who made it possible.
- Examine legislation that made it easy for people to own land and raise their economic status in Western states.
- Describe life for the farmers, miners, and ranchers who settled Western states.
- Analyze the relationship among the federal government, settlers, and Native Americans.
- Identify key dates and the contributions of key people during westward expansion.
- Define the following terms:
- Pacific Railroad Act
- Central Pacific Railroad
- Union Pacific Railroad
- Transcontinental Railroad
- Morrill Land-Grant Act
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Granger Movement
- Homestead Act
- Reservations
- Battle of Little Bighorn
- Dawes Act
- Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show
- Chisholm Trail
- Massacre at Wounded Knee