Frontier Flash Cards questions with correct answers

What was going on out West during the Mid 1800's that created a need for a Transcontinental Railroad? - Answer The gold rush is what created a need for a quicker way to get from the Eastern United States to California What is a negative impact of the Transcontinental Railroad? - Answer The Native American tribes on the Great Plains were largely forced off of their lands. First, though, their main source of food--the buffalo, almost was killed to extinction. Positive impact of Transcontinental Railroad - Answer Faster transportation; trip from NY to SF went from 6 months to 6 days. HUGE economic benefits with raw materials of West able to be shipped to population centers in the East. Allows "the frontier" to be settled with thousands of people moving west each year. Dawes Act - Answer Law passed by Congress that attempted to break up tribal traditions and make natives more "white." Reservations were broken up into 160 acre sections and natives were expected to farm, with native children going to school Range Wars - Answer Battle between farmers and ranchers over the Great Plains. Farmers wanted CLOSED range (fenced land) while ranchers preferred OPEN range (no fences) Sodbusters - Answer Homesteaders on the Great Plains who had to rip up the Native grasses to farm and make a house