What was the primary driving force behind westward expansion in the 19th century?
- Gold Rush
- Cotton Farming
- The Fur Trade
- Railroad Construction
Correct Answer: The Fur Trade
Correct Answer Explanation: The book details the lucrative beaver trade which attracted trappers and traders, fueling the exploration and settlement of the West.
What company dominated the fur trade in the Northwest during the 19th century?
- American Fur Company
- Rocky Mountain Fur Company
- Hudson’s Bay Company
- North West Company
Correct Answer: Hudson’s Bay Company
Correct Answer Explanation: The Hudson’s Bay Company had a well-established system, strong government support, and a long-standing relationship with Native Americans.
Which Native American tribe was known as “Bugs Boys” or “the devil’s own” for their hostility towards trappers?
- Crow
- Blackfeet
- Nez Perce
- Flatheads
Correct Answer: Blackfeet
Correct Answer Explanation: They were a formidable tribe, renowned for their skills in warfare and their reputation for violence.
What was the name of the annual gathering of mountain men, traders, and Native Americans?
- Rendezvous
- Powwow
- Trading Post
- Council
Correct Answer: Rendezvous
Correct Answer Explanation: It was a gathering where they would trade furs, supplies, and horses.
Which American entrepreneur attempted to establish a fur trade in the Northwest and built Fort Hall on the Snake River?
- Jedediah Smith
- Nathaniel Wyeth
- Jim Bridger
- William Sublette
Correct Answer: Nathaniel Wyeth
Correct Answer Explanation: He engaged in fierce rivalry with the Hudson’s Bay Company, eventually selling his post to them in 1835.
Which tribe maintained a more amicable relationship with white trappers, seeking to use them as allies in their conflicts with the Blackfeet?
- Blackfeet
- Nez Perce
- Flatheads
- Crow
Correct Answer: Crow
Correct Answer Explanation: They sought to use the whites as allies in their conflicts with the Blackfeet.
What was the name of the tragic event in 1847 that marked a turning point in relations between settlers and Native Americans in Oregon?
- The Battle of Pierre’s Hole
- The Massacre at Waiilatpu
- The Battle of Little Big Horn
- The Wounded Knee Massacre
Correct Answer: The Massacre at Waiilatpu
Correct Answer Explanation: The Cayuse Indians, driven by suspicion and fear, attacked the mission, killing Dr. Whitman, his wife, and several others.
What was the primary type of boat used for ferrying goods and people across rivers in the 19th century?
- Canoe
- Raft
- Bull-boat
- Rowboat
Correct Answer: Bull-boat
Correct Answer Explanation: A boat made from stitched buffalo hides, used for ferrying goods and people across rivers.
What was the name of the treaty in 1846 that set the boundary between the United States and Great Britain at the 49th parallel?
- The Missouri Compromise
- The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
- The Oregon Treaty
- The Compromise of 1850
Correct Answer: The Oregon Treaty
Correct Answer Explanation: It ended the long-standing dispute over the Oregon Territory.
What phrase did mountain men use to describe the quality of their meals?
- “Good grub”
- “Cant tickup ko hanch”
- “Fine fare”
- “A hearty repast”
Correct Answer: “Cant tickup ko hanch”
Correct Answer Explanation: A phrase meaning “good meat,” used by mountain men to describe the quality of their meals.
What was the primary way mountain men made a living?
- Farming
- Mining
- Trading
- Trapping
Correct Answer: Trapping
Correct Answer Explanation: Trappers would hunt animals for their furs and trade them for goods and supplies.
What was a “free trapper”?
- A trapper who worked for a company
- A trapper who worked independently
- A trapper who specialized in certain animals
- A trapper who was skilled in hunting
Correct Answer: A trapper who worked independently
Correct Answer Explanation: They owned their own equipment and horses and weren’t bound by a contract to a specific company.
Which of the following tribes inhabited arid and barren lands and were known for their scavenging skills?
- Crow
- Nez Perce
- Blackfeet
- Diggers
Correct Answer: Diggers
Correct Answer Explanation: They lived off of insects, rodents, and roots.
What is “making medicine” in the context of Native American culture?
- Seeking medical treatment
- Making herbal remedies
- Performing rituals and ceremonies to invoke supernatural powers
- Healing the sick
Correct Answer: Performing rituals and ceremonies to invoke supernatural powers
Correct Answer Explanation: Often associated with healing and divination.
What was the name of the first wagon train to cross the Rocky Mountains?
- The Donner Party
- The Lewis and Clark Expedition
- Captain Bonneville’s Expedition
- The Oregon Trail
Correct Answer: Captain Bonneville’s Expedition
Correct Answer Explanation: It marked a significant step in the development of westward transportation and the expansion of American influence.
What was the name of the leader or chief trader in a fur company?
- Booshway
- Trapper
- Hunter
- Guide
Correct Answer: Booshway
Correct Answer Explanation: They were in charge of the company’s operations.
Which of the following was a skill commonly used by mountain men?
- Navigation
- Hunting
- Survival
- All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Correct Answer Explanation: They were skilled in frontier survival, hunting, and fighting, but their lives were marked by lawlessness and recklessness.
What was the approximate number of American trappers in the Rocky Mountains in the early 19th century?
- 100
- 600
- 1,000
- 10,000
Correct Answer: 600
Correct Answer Explanation: This number would have been significantly larger, considering the involvement of Native American allies.
What is the name of the small rodent known for its burrowing habits and for sharing its underground homes with rattlesnakes and owls?
- Prairie dog
- Groundhog
- Squirrel
- Rabbit
Correct Answer: Prairie dog
Correct Answer Explanation: They are a common sight on the western plains.
How many dollars worth of furs were collected at Mr. Ashley’s fort on Lake Ashley in the early 19th century?
- $10,000
- $50,000
- $180,000
- $500,000
Correct Answer: $180,000
Correct Answer Explanation: This represents the lucrative nature of the fur trade and the amount of wealth it generated.
What was the name of the battle in 1832 where rival fur companies and Native American tribes clashed?
- The Battle of Little Big Horn
- The Battle of Wounded Knee
- The Battle of Pierre’s Hole
- The Battle of the Alamo
Correct Answer: The Battle of Pierre’s Hole
Correct Answer Explanation: This encounter, where rival fur companies and Native American tribes clashed, demonstrates the complexities of competition and conflict in the West.
How many Blackfeet warriors were killed in the Battle of Pierre’s Hole?
- 5
- 10
- 15
- 20
Correct Answer: 10
Correct Answer Explanation: This battle was a testament to the fierce fighting that often occurred between trappers and Native Americans.
How many horses did Meek receive for his services as a preacher?
- 5
- 10
- 13
- 20
Correct Answer: 13
Correct Answer Explanation: This illustrates the value placed on knowledge and influence by Native American tribes, and the willingness to reward those who possess it.
What is “cooning a river” in the context of mountain men’s activities?
- Fishing for raccoons
- Hunting raccoons
- Crossing a river quickly and secretly
- Navigating a river by canoe
Correct Answer: Crossing a river quickly and secretly
Correct Answer Explanation: To avoid detection by hostile tribes.
How many horses did Jedediah Smith’s party lose during an attack by the Shastas?
- $5,000
- $10,000
- $15,000
- $20,000
Correct Answer: $20,000
Correct Answer Explanation: This highlights the risk and volatility of the fur trade, with constant danger lurking in the wilderness.
What was the approximate size of the party that attacked Jedediah Smith at the Umpqua River?
- 100
- 500
- 1,000
- 10,000
Correct Answer: 1,000
Correct Answer Explanation: This shows the scale of attacks sometimes faced by the trappers, highlighting the overwhelming odds they were often up against.
How many horses did a party of Crows steal from Bridger’s camp in 1831?
- 50
- 100
- 200
- 300
Correct Answer: 300
Correct Answer Explanation: This exemplifies the prevalence of horse theft among Native American tribes and the challenge it presented to white settlers.
What was the name of the incident where 11 out of 13 men were killed by the Shastas, highlighting the brutality of the fur trade and the danger faced by trappers?
- The Battle of Pierre’s Hole
- The Massacre at Waiilatpu
- The Massacre at the Umpqua River
- The Crow Attack on Bridger’s Camp
Correct Answer: The Massacre at the Umpqua River
Correct Answer Explanation: This demonstrates the dangers faced by trappers in the American West.
What was the approximate size of the Blackfeet war party that attacked Milton Sublette’s camp in 1832?
- 500
- 1,000
- 1,500
- 2,000
Correct Answer: 1,000
Correct Answer Explanation: This illustrates the threat posed by this formidable tribe, who often outnumbered their opponents.
What was the approximate size of the Blackfeet war party that attacked Bridger’s camp in 1836?
- 800
- 1,000
- 1,100
- 1,200
Correct Answer: 1,100
Correct Answer Explanation: This demonstrates the size and organization of Blackfeet war parties, and the magnitude of the threat they posed to white settlers.
How many people were involved in the immigration of 1843?
- 100
- 500
- 900
- 1,500
Correct Answer: 900
Correct Answer Explanation: This rapid growth highlights the increasing popularity of the Oregon Trail and the American settlement of the territory.
How many people were involved in the immigration of 1845?
- 1,000
- 2,500
- 4,000-5,000
- 10,000
Correct Answer: 4,000-5,000
Correct Answer Explanation: This rapid growth highlights the increasing popularity of the Oregon Trail and the American settlement of the territory.
What was the name of the Native American leader who consulted with a Crow “medicine man” in the book?
- Jim Bridger
- Joseph L. Meek
- Jedediah Smith
- Thomas Fitzpatrick
Correct Answer: Thomas Fitzpatrick
Correct Answer Explanation: This illustrates the role of Shamanism in Native American culture and the reliance on supernatural beliefs.
How many horses did Meek lose during a hunting trip with John Larison?
- 5
- 10
- 15
- 20
Correct Answer: 15
Correct Answer Explanation: This highlights the constant challenges of survival in the wilderness, with animals frequently being lost to harsh conditions or theft.
What was the name of the Native American who was killed by a Bannack arrow in the book?
- Umentucken
- Little-Gun
- Blackfeet Warrior
- Crow Leader
Correct Answer: Umentucken
Correct Answer Explanation: This tragedy showcases the danger faced by women who accompanied trappers on their journeys.
How many grizzlies did a party of six trappers encounter in a cave?
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Correct Answer: 3
Correct Answer Explanation: This demonstrates the skill and courage of mountain men, who often faced off against these formidable creatures.
What was the name of the incident where Jandreau mocked prayer, illustrating the humor and mischief found among mountain men and the tension that existed between settlers and missionaries?
- Jandreau’s Mock Prayer
- The Missionary Encounter
- The Jandreau Incident
- The Prayer Mockery
Correct Answer: Jandreau’s Mock Prayer
Correct Answer Explanation: This demonstrates the tension that existed between settlers and missionaries.
What was the name of the anecdote where Meek describes a simple pumpkin supper, highlighting the scarcity of resources and the hardships faced by early settlers in Oregon?
- Meek’s Pumpkin Supper
- The Pioneer Meal
- The Oregon Feast
- The Pumpkin Harvest
Correct Answer: Meek’s Pumpkin Supper
Correct Answer Explanation: This demonstrates the hardships faced by settlers in Oregon.
What was the name of the incident where Jim Bridger successfully captured a Native American leader known as Little-Gun?
- The Capture of Little-Gun
- Bridger’s Strategy
- The Little-Gun Incident
- The Native American Capture
Correct Answer: The Capture of Little-Gun
Correct Answer Explanation: This demonstrates Bridger’s strategy and the importance of skilled diplomacy in dealing with Native American tribes.