17. The Contested West, 1865

Quiz for Making Historical Arguments: Did Westerners Really Build It All by Themselves?

Choose the best answer to each question. Click the “submit” button for each question to turn in your work.

1. Besides the role of the federal government, which of the following is a factor overlooked by the myth of the American West?

The gritty determination of pioneer men

The role of pioneer women

The vast empty lands encountered by the pioneers

The easy availability of free land

2. What action did the federal government take with regard to immigration to help Americans in the West?

It suspended Chinese immigration.

It allowed more European immigrants into the country to help build the West.

It restricted immigrants from working in certain jobs.

It allowed only women and children to immigrate to the United States.

3. What was the impact of the 1862 Homestead Act on the American West?

The act reserved the best lands for government use.

The act set up Indian reservations.

The act gave land titles to pioneers.

The act granted land to former slaves.

4. Which of the following is an example of federal intervention that helped farms in the West?

Building strong diplomatic ties to Canada and Mexico

Relaxing restrictions on immigration

Allowing farmers to grow crops on public lands

Building roads to improve transportation

5. In what way did the U.S. Biological Survey and the Forest Service help western ranchers?

They dealt with animals that threatened cattle or grazing land.

They put up miles of barbed wire fencing to protect grazing land.

They took the best grazing lands away from farmers.

They paid higher prices to buy ranchers’ cattle.