Gr 4 - Social Studies - Chapter 8 - Review Q&A

Why did settlers on the Great Plains need to be self-sufficient?

Most lived far from towns and stores. Their closest neighbors were usually miles away so they had to do many things on their own.

How would you describe the geography of the Midwest?

Flat land with fertile soil.

How did Henry Ford change the automobile industry?

He set-up an assembly line to mass produce automobiles

What made the Midwest's cities grow in 1950?

industrial economies

Which mineral is plentiful in the Midwest region?

iron ore

What did most early settlers on the great Plains use to build their homes?

sod

What were three ways in which Native Americans of the Great Plains used the buffalo?

1) Meat for food 2) Skin to make tepees, clothing and blankets 3) Bones and horns to make tools, needles and arrowheads

Why were railroads important to the growth of the Midwest?

1) They provided an easier way for settlers to reach the Midwest. 2) The railroad towns attracted many entrepreneurs, who opened new businesses 3) Stockyards also became popular as the railroads were used to transport the cattle.

When did railroads link the Midwest with the east?

1850

What two physical features of the Midwest were created by glaciers?

Plains and Great Lakes

Where was the Northwest Territory?

The northern Central Plains. The Ohio River, Mississippi River and Great Lakes formed its boundaries.

What happened during the worst drought in the history of the United States?

The soil dried up. Strong winds blew the soil around, causing huge dust storms. This area became known as the Dust Bowl.

How did steamboats change river travel?

Their engines were strong enough to travel upstream. They were able to travel much faster than flatboats.

What ways of life changed for the Sioux once they moved to the Great Plains?

They began to travel by horse (rather than canoe). They didn't build permanent villages or farms. They moved from place-to-place, following buffalo herds.

Besides land used for farming and ranching, what other resources are found in the region?

Water, used for fishing and for fresh drinking water.

What is mass production?

When a product is made more quickly and cheaply by using machines.