Westward expansion- part three

Question 1

Give two geographical consequences of westward expansion

Answer 1

1. Country spread from coast to coast. 2. Population grew from 38m in 1869 to 92m in 1899.

Question 2

Give three positive economic consequences of westward expansion

Answer 2

1. Resources such as gold and silver. 2. Business opportunities, encouraging transport/communications developments. 3. Agricultural opportunities encouraged innovation and eased land pressure.

Question 3

Give three negative economic consequences of westward expansion

Answer 3

1. Cronyism, fraud and banditry. 2. Only 40% of homesteaders proved up their title to land. 11,000 homesteads were repossessed in Kansas 1889-93. 3. Worsened the situation for farmers in the east who couldn’t keep up with the prosperity of the west.

Question 4

What happened to farming and manufacturing?

Answer 4

Farming output doubled and the value of manufacturing grew six fold.

Question 5

Give two positive social consequences of westward expansion

Answer 5

1. Necessary to cope with the growing population, this necessity helped the USA to avoid social problems other nations had had. 2. Perscueted groups like the Mormons found a homeland in the west.

Question 6

Give two negative social consequences of westward expansion

Answer 6

1. Destroyed native way of life. 2. Question of slavery’s expansion led to sectional tensions and war.

Question 7

Give the political consequences of westward expansion

Answer 7

Parties used it to gain popularity and extend the role of government as it financed large scale projects. The government was able to challenge those who had opposed a strong federal government.

Question 8

Give two positive cultural consequences of westward expansion

Answer 8

1. Discoveries as new areas were mapped. 2. Increased scientific/geographical understanding, manifesting in the conservation movement which set up Yellowstone national park in 1872.

Question 9

Give two negative cultural consequences of westward expansion

Answer 9

1. Deforestation and mining in areas of cultural significance. 2. Destroyed the buffalo.

Question 10

Give a final judgment on westward expansion

Answer 10

Led to a romanticized view, farther emphasized by the emergence of buffalo bill Cody’s Wild West show in 1883. This heroic view needs to be balanced against the lawlessness, effects on the climate and destruction of native culture.