Study Guide Test 2

• What was the purpose of the Homestead Act of 1862?


  It granted individuals 160 acres of land in western territories for a fee.
• How much did the land cost under the Homestead Act in today's money?

  It cost between $62.29 to $311.43 in today's money.
• Approximately how many families moved west from the 1860s to the 1900s?

  Approximately 600,000 families moved west.
• What was the role of railroad companies in westward expansion?

  They were set to connect the east and west of the United States.
• Which railroad company went west from Nebraska?

  Union Pacific.
• Which railroad company went east from California?

  Central Pacific.
• When was the Transcontinental Railroad completed?

  It was completed in 1869.
• Where was the Transcontinental Railroad connected?

  It was connected in Utah.
• What is an Exoduster?

  An Exoduster is an African American who left the post-Reconstruction South.
• Which groups of workers went to California during the expansion?

  Chinese, Mexican, and Irish workers.
• Who made up the majority of settlers in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and half of Nebraska?

  European immigrants.
• What were homes made of sod called?

  Soddies.
• Why were soddies built instead of traditional homes?

  Trees were scarce in the area.
• What was a benefit of sod homes regarding climate?

  They provided year-round climate control, being cool in summers and warm in winters.
• What was a disadvantage of living in sod homes?

  Lack of light and air attracted pests.
• How did sod homes provide fireproofing?

  Sod made homes fireproof but very vulnerable to rain.
• What roles did women play in agriculture during this period?


  Women worked side by side with men, raising crops, livestock, and working the fields.
• Who were some innovators that made farming more efficient?

  John Deere and Cyrus McCormick.
• What did the Morrill Act of 1862 provide for?


  It granted funds for agricultural colleges.
• Name some agricultural colleges established by the Morrill Act.

  Texas A&M, Kansas State, Iowa State, and FAMU.
• Why did farmers struggle with debts?


  Farming equipment was very expensive and crops were weak.
• What are bonanza farms?

  Single crop farms up to 50,000 acres.
• How did railroads affect farmers' prices?

  Railroads increased prices as crop production increased.
• Why did farmers feel exploited by railroad companies?

  Railroad companies charged higher shipping fees to western farms than eastern farms.
• What did farmers begin to do in response to their struggles?

  Farmers began to organize for political advocacy.
• What were greenbacks?


  Paper currency issued during the Civil War that was not exchangeable for gold/silver coins.
• How much greenbacks were issued during the Civil War?

  $500 million.
• What was the impact of high railroad prices on farmers?

  Farmers struggled with high railroad prices and mortgaged farms for credit.
• What was the Grange (Patrons of Husbandry)?

  A farmers’ union formed by Oliver Hudson Kelly originally as an educational program.
• How did the Grange expand its operations?

  It expanded to protest against railroads and push for legislation to regulate them.
• What does populism mean?

  It is referred to as the "movement of the people."
• What was the platform of the Populist Party?

  Increased money supply, graduated income tax, one-term limit for presidents, secret ballots, 8-hour workdays, and immigration restrictions.
• Who was James Weaver?

  He was a candidate who won 10% of the votes in the 1892 presidential election.
• What political successes did the Populists achieve?

  They won 5 Senate seats, 3 state governorships, and thousands of seats in state legislatures.
• How did the Democrats respond to the Populist Movement?

  They eventually adopted the Populist mindset that government had a responsibility to reform social injustices.
• What was the Panic of 1893?

  It was a financial crisis where stocks crashed as people rushed to trade paper currency for gold.
• What did "gold bugs" favor?

  They favored the Gold Standard, backing paper currency with gold.
• What did "Silverites" advocate for?

  They favored bimetallism, exchanging paper currency with gold and silver.
• Why did Silverites believe adding silver to the currency was beneficial?

  They believed it would help pay debts better since silver was more abundant than gold.
• What did gold bugs fear about adding silver to the currency?

  They feared it would lead to mass inflation.