TMoA The Plains 1861-77

Question 1

Railroads

Answer 1

In 1862 the Pacific Railroad Act meant that money was provided to build the Transcontinental Railroad
Connect the East and the West
The Railroad cut through Indian Lands and disrupted Buffalo hunting grounds
12,000 Chinese immigrants worked the railroads and were paid poorly and accidents were common
Cowtowns popped up along the railroad

Question 2

The Cattle Industry

Answer 2

Cowtowns emerged and were run by Sherifs and were places for Cowboys to rest and spend money
Cattle ranches were developed along the Oregon Trail

Question 3

What were Homesteaders?

Answer 3

The Homestead Act offered people 160 acres of land free for 5 years
Railroads companies advertised the plains as great places to farm
Homesteaders made houses out of sod brick and used wind pumps to drill under the ground to get clean water

Question 4

Difficulty of the Plains

Answer 4

Lack of firewood and clean water which lead to cholera and dysantry
Difficult to get the supplies to the plains
Very harsh winds

Question 5

Cowtowns

Answer 5

Where cattle was sold
Located near railway lines
Cowboys spent their wages
Originally drunk and violet until 1870 when sherifs were employed

Question 6

Transcontinental Railroad

Answer 6

Completed in 1869
Pacific Union built East to West
Central Pacific was built West to East
Chinese immigrants were exploited