AP Success - AP US History: Western Railroads' Expansion & Impact
William T. Sherman on the Western Railroads, 1878."To the Military Authorities it makes little difference with which of these two roads you ultimately make connection, but meantime every mile of rail road you build Eastward, is of great importance to us; saves the costly and difficult transportation of stones by wagons, and the infinitely more tedious and painful marching of men over dusty roads, at long intervals without water and with scanty food. A Railroad East and West through Arizona, apart from its importance as a Commercial Route from the Pacific to the Atlantic, is a “great civilizer” and will enable the Military Authorities to maintain peace and order among Indians, as well as the Equally dangerous class of Robbers who of late have so much increased in members and boldness."
Question 1
According to William T. Sherman, what was one of the primary military benefits of constructing railroads eastward through Arizona?
It would facilitate the transportation of supplies and troops.
It would allow for quicker mail delivery between the coasts.
It would provide a faster route for settlers moving west.
It would encourage European powers to invest in American infrastructure.
Question 2
Sherman refers to the railroad as a 'great civilizer.' What does this suggest about his view on the role of railroads in the West?
He believed railroads would promote order and development in the region.
He thought railroads would primarily benefit the military by providing strategic defense positions.
He considered railroads to be a tool for spreading religious beliefs among indigenous populations.
He saw railroads as a means to exploit natural resources for industrial purposes.
Question 3
What does Sherman identify as a significant problem that the military authorities face in the West?
Dealing with the influx of immigrants settling in the region.
Protecting the railroads from sabotage by Confederate sympathizers.
Negotiating land rights with railroad companies.
Maintaining peace and order among Indians and robbers.
Question 4
Sherman's statement implies that railroads in the West would have an impact on which of the following?
Economic development and commercial connectivity.
The preservation of the natural environment and wildlife.
The creation of a transcontinental telegraph system.
The establishment of new forms of colonial governance.
Question 5
The source from William T. Sherman reflects which broader trend in late 19th-century America?
The movement towards isolationism and a reduction in domestic infrastructure projects.
The reliance on military force to resolve international trade disputes.
The use of technology and infrastructure to exert control over the frontier.
The shift from a focus on internal improvements to overseas expansion.
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