AnswersUnited States HistoryHomesteaders and the Transcontinental Railroad

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1
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Materials used to build the Central Pacific Railroad were shipped

A
from west to east.
B
around South America.
C
from north to south.
D
across North America.
2
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How did Abraham Lincoln affect the construction of the transcontinental railroad?

A
Lincoln appointed Theodore Judah to survey the land and locate investors for the transcontinental railroad.
B
Lincoln prevented Leland Stanford from running one of the two railroad companies in order to avoid a monopoly.
C
Lincoln obstructed the passage of the railroad bill because he wanted the government to focus on the Civil War.
D
Lincoln signed the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 into law, which stimulated the construction of the railroad.
3

During the construction of the transcontinental railroad in the United States,

A
many new towns and settlements grew.
B
many people lost interest in new settlements.
C
cities on the coasts were cut off from the rest of the country.
D
Civil War refugees fled to new towns in the western territories.
4

How did the completion of the transcontinental railroad change the lives of American citizens?

A
It decreased the safety of Americans who moved to settle the plains.
B
It shortened travel time between the East and West for all Americans.
C
It increased the wealth of all Americans and enabled them to travel more.
D
It made cross-country travel too expensive for ordinary Americans.
6

Materials that had to be shipped to Central Pacific workers included

A
iron and machinery.
B
coal and oil.
C
silver and machinery.
D
oil and gold.
7

In the 1840s, the main argument in Congress over the transcontinental railroad concerned

A
where the railroad should run.
B
the geographic direction of the railroad.
C
the money needed to fund the railroad.
D
the lack of available workers to build the railroad.
8

Which statement best explains why the transcontinental railroad took several years to build?

A
A divided Congress continued fighting over funding for the railroad, leading to work stoppages every few months.
B
Chinese immigrants engaged in frequent clashes with rail workers, so work stopped while safety measures were adopted.
C
Digging through the mountains was very difficult, and the long winters hampered workers’ ability to make progress.
D
Several Civil War battles took place where the railroad was being built, so workers had to wait for the land to be clear and safe.
9

How did the transcontinental railroad affect US commerce?

A
The railroad increased commerce by making shipping easier and cheaper.
B
The railroad led to major corruption in business, which hurt commerce.
C
The railroad decreased commerce by making trading posts disappear.
D
The railroad decreased commerce by making shipping more expensive.

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