Homesteaders and the Transcontinental Railroad

Question 1

Who first advocated for a transcontinental railroad?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Asa Whitney

Question 2

Which of the following is a reason Whitney’s railroad was not built?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Congress could not agree on a location for the rail line.

Question 3

What did the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 do? Check all of the boxes that apply.

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Established the Union Pacific Railroad; Established the Central Pacific Railroad; Gave loans and land to railroad companies

Question 4

Which conditions made building the railroad difficult? Check all of the boxes that apply.

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Harsh weather; Little access to supplies; Drilling tunnels through rock

Question 5

Because of the transcontinental railroad, which country became more accessible for trade?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

China

Question 6

This diagram shows the pattern of

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land grants along the transcontinental railroad.

Question 7

How did the railroad facilitate population growth in the interior of the country? Check all of the boxes that apply.

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The railroad built towns along the railroad.; The railroad recruited settlers to form new communities along the route.

Question 8

What percentage of US land was given away through the Homestead Act?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

10%

Question 9

Read the quote to the right and think about how Mattie describes her experiences.Why does she say the hardships were worth it?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

She was proud that her hard work was for her family’s benefit and not someone else’s.

Question 10

In the quote on the left, “isolated bodies of settlement” refers to new territories✔ new townsold cities.

Revolt · Accepted Answer

new towns

Homesteaders and the Transcontinental Railroad Answers