California Development Web Hunt!

4th Grade Social Studies

Ms. Keefer

The Big Question

How did the Pony Express, Overland Mail Service, Western Union, and
transcontinental railroad contribute to the California economy and its political and
cultural development since the 1850s?

Standard
4.4.1 Understand the story and lasting influence of the Pony Express, Overland
Mail Service, Western Union, and the building of the transcontinental railroad,
including the contributions of Chinese workers to its construction.

The Mission of This Assignment

In this activity, you will learn about an important time in American history when we
were expanding and creating new ways to travel and send items more easily. It is
essential to understand how we started to become such an influential power and
you will do this through researching the following questions in order to answer the
big question asked above!

Web Hunt Directions

1. Please visit all of the following links to answer the questions.
2. Make a document to list the answers to each question.
 3. For each question, be sure to write the website you used to answer it.
4. Make sure all the answers are in your own words.

Web Hunt Helpers

1. Transcontinental Railroad Video
2. Transcontinental Railroad Website
3. The Pony Express Website
4. USPS Overland Mail
5. Western Union

Web Hunt Questions

1. What is The Transcontinental Railroad?
2. When was it completed?
3. Name one advantage of the Transcontinental Railroad.
4. What group of people made up of the work force for the railroad?
5. What is The Pony Express?
6. What was the Overland Mail Service in the 1850s?
7. How was the mail carried in the Overland Mail Service?
8. Explain the Western Union Company.
9. When were telegraphs used the most?
10. In your opinion, which development was the most influential in the overall
development of California? Explain.