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Quiz about The Great West Mid 1800s Early 1900s

The Great West: Mid 1800s - Early 1900s Quiz

It's amazing what you can learn from Social Studies class, isn't it? Here's a quiz on the good ol' days back in the great west.

A multiple-choice quiz by SethMegadefan. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
SethMegadefan

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
159,776

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1622

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. On what exact date did workers finish the Union Pacific and Central Pacific's joining at Promontary Point? Hint

July 17, 1867

May 10, 1869

March 12, 1870

August 19, 1868

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Question 2 of 10

2. We know him as "Buffalo Bill". What is his real name? Hint

Richard M. Dalton

John C. Devens

William F. Cody

Alexander D. Barton

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Question 3 of 10

3. In what year was the first 'Cow Town' established? Hint

1866

1868

1867

1869

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Question 4 of 10

4. Where, in South Dakota, was Sitting Bull's cabin? Hint

Standing Rock Reservation

Black Hills

Wounded Knee

Crouching Bull Resort

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who was responsible for inventing the steel plow?

Answer: (Two Words (Think tractors and lawnmowers))

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Question 6 of 10

6. In what year was the Homestead Act passed? Hint

1862

1865

1858

1860

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Question 7 of 10

7. How many acres of land could one claim under the Homestead Act? Hint

190

170

150

160

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Question 8 of 10

8. By 1910, what percent of all homesteaders were women? Hint

13%

10%

15%

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Question 9 of 10

9. What was passed by the US Government in an attempt to persuade the Indians to adopt American culture? Hint

Dawes Act

Fort Laramie Treaty

Homestead Act

Adoption Act

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Question 10 of 10

10. In 1863, gold was discovered in Montana, and many miners traveled to the state to dig for it. What trail was the most notable trail for this gold discovery?

Answer: (Two Words (It branches off of the Orgeon Trail))

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. On what exact date did workers finish the Union Pacific and Central Pacific's joining at Promontary Point?

Answer: May 10, 1869

The two railroads were joined together with a gold spike. The Union Pacific had laid 1,086 miles (1,747 km) to Central Pacific's 689 miles (1,109 km). Lea Stanford, who was president of the Central Pacific was the person who drove the gold spike into the two sets of tracks.

2. We know him as "Buffalo Bill". What is his real name?

Answer: William F. Cody

"Buffalo Bill" was responsible for killing 4,000 buffalo in just 8 months! He was hired by the railroad companies to shoot buffalo to feed the railroad workers. There must have been a lot of food!

3. In what year was the first 'Cow Town' established?

Answer: 1867

Joseph G. McCoy established the first 'Cow Town' in Abilene, Kansas. It was a cluster of log huts along the Kansas Pacific railroad. McCoy built stockyards, loading chutes, pens, and a hotel that year for the 'Cow Town'.

4. Where, in South Dakota, was Sitting Bull's cabin?

Answer: Standing Rock Reservation

In the December of 1890, 43 policemen surrounded Sitting Bull's cabin and told him that he was under arrest. Sitting Bull, at first, agreed to go with them, but yelled "I will not go!" when he got outside. As he tried to run away, he was killed, along with seven of his followers and six policemen.

5. Who was responsible for inventing the steel plow?

Answer: John Deere

John Deere invented the steel plow in 1838. James Oliver, however, improved it in 1868. This addition allowed the plow to cut through the sod of the plains. That's tough stuff!

6. In what year was the Homestead Act passed?

Answer: 1862

Between 1862 and 1900 about 500,000 homesteaders moved to the Plains to claim their 160 acres.

7. How many acres of land could one claim under the Homestead Act?

Answer: 160

Of all the people who claimed land between 1862 and 1900, the grand total of acres claimed all together came out to more than 80 million!

8. By 1910, what percent of all homesteaders were women?

Answer: 10%

Harriet Strong of Wyoming exclaimed: "It takes brains, not brawn, to make farms pay. We need more women farmers!" Many women homesteaders were behind the quote as a powerful statement.

9. What was passed by the US Government in an attempt to persuade the Indians to adopt American culture?

Answer: Dawes Act

The Government tried to convince the Indians to dress like the Americans, and to practice the same religions that Americans did. Not long later, though, the Dawes Act failed.

10. In 1863, gold was discovered in Montana, and many miners traveled to the state to dig for it. What trail was the most notable trail for this gold discovery?

Answer: Bozeman Trail

Taking this trail meant trespassing on Teton Sioux land at that time, and many of the Teton Sioux attacked miners in anger for the intrusion.

Source: Author SethMegadefan

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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