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In this section is a list of questions. After the questions, the question has been repeated, along with the answer. This allows you to print out the questions for your students and keep the question-and-answer section for your reference. AN
OVERVIEW OF THE WEST A. NATIVE
AMERICANS A-1. The
peoples who were "native" to the Americas were probably
immigrants. From what countries do we believe they came? A-2.
Look at a geographic map of North America. Find the Mississippi River.
Look west to the Missouri River. What kind of land is west of the
Missouri? What large mountain formation runs roughly north-south? How
would this affect human settlement? A-3. Even
before Europeans arrived, native people were constantly moving. Yet
they had no horses. How would they move? What beasts of burden would
they use? How would this form of life effect the kinds of clothes they
wore, utensils, food preparation? A-4. How
did the roles of men and women differ? A-5. What
kinds of toys did Native American children have? What kinds of games
did they play? Why and how were they important? B. EARLY
EXPLORERS B-1.
Irish monks and Norse Vikings both made their way to the eastern coast
of the American continent even before Christopher Columbus
"discovered" the continent for Spain. Ships from the Orient
sailed along the West Coast. What other countries came to explore the
American continent? Why? B-2. The
exchange of cultures -- European and native American -- had a major
effect on both cultures. How did they change each other? What happens
when cultures clash today? B-3. What
town lay at the mouth of the Mississippi River? Why were the town and
the river important? B-4. What
was the attitude of early explorers toward the native tribes? How did
attitudes differ with nationalities? B-5. From
the very beginning, explorers hunted for rivers that would allow ships
to sail across the continent. Why? Look at a map of the United States.
How many large rivers flow from the East Coast to the West Coast? If
you have older maps (pre-1806), is there a difference in the geography
(rivers and mountains) shown? How would these geographic features
effect travel? How would they effect growth? C.
EUROPEAN IMMIGRANTS C-1.
Where were the first permanent settlements in America? From what
country/countries were they? C-2. What
conditions in Europe would cause people to go to America in the 1700s?
C-3. What
was the American Revolution? How did it affect Europe? C-4. What
part did the European monarchy play in opening the American West? C-5. Who
were Lewis & Clark? What role did they play in opening the West?
What young girl accompanied Lewis & Clark? C-6. What
was the result of the Lewis & Clark expedition? D.
TRAPPERS, TRADERS AND SCOUTS D-1. How
did European fashion of the early 1800s affect the American West? D-2. Who
were the trappers? D-3. What
were the biggest dangers in the wilderness? D-4. Did
trappers always work alone? D-5. What
was the rendezvous and how did it change wilderness trapping and
hunting? D-6. What
happened as more men went into the American frontier to trap and hunt?
D-7. How
did trapping change in the 1830s? D-8. Who
else explored the American West during 1800-1830? D-9. What
was the American West like? D-10.
What about the Southwest? E. COMING
TO AMERICA: THE IMMIGRANTS E-1. From
what countries did immigrants come after 1800? F.
WEST BY WAGON F-1. What
were the natural barriers that kept people from moving West? F-2. When did families start to move into the American West? F-3. What
was the general route West? F-4. Why
did they not go by boat? F-5.
Since there were no roads, how did travelers know the way West? F-6. What
was the trail West like? G. THE
MORMONS G-1. What
was the importance of the Mormons? G-2. What
effect did the California gold rush have on the Mormons? H.
TRANSPORTATION H-1. How
did people send messages or packages from one coast to the other? H-2. When
were railroads built? H-3. Was
the transcontinental railroad the only railroad? H-4. What
obstacles sometimes slowed down train travel? I.
SLAVERY & CIVIL WAR I-1. How
did the issue of slavery affect the American West? I-2. Was
the American West involved in the Civil War? J.
OUTLAWS & LAWMEN J-1. Were
there really more outlaws on the frontier than in the East? J-2. Were
many outlaws shot or hanged? K. CATTLE
RANCHING & COWBOYS K-1.
Why did the cattlemen find the West attractive? K-2.
So how did the cattle get to market? K-3. What
were the trail rides like? K-4. Who
were the cowboys? K-5. Was
cattle ranching limited to small operations? K-6. Why
did the industry decline? K-7.
Was there a sheep industry? L.
HOMESTEADING L-1. What
was the Homestead Act of 1862? L-2. What
caused trouble between homesteaders, sheepmen and cattlemen? L-3. What
was farm life like on the small frontier farm? M. TOWNS M-1. When
did towns begin to form in the West? M-2. Who
were the first to open businesses in towns? N. WHITE
MAN V. RED MAN N-1. Why
did relations between Native Americans and white settlers become
difficult? N-2. What
happened to the Native American tribes? N-3. Were
the Native American tribes considered separate nations? O.
LAST OF THE FRONTIER O-1. When
did the frontier end? 0-2. Was
there any concern for preserving the frontier? ====================================================== |