How did the Comstock Lode affect the western part of the United States?

Question

a. Individual miners claimed all the land in the West for themselves.
b. Thousands of prospectors traveled west in search of gold and silver.
c. Native Americans sold their land to prospectors.
d. Gold and silver lost its value because prospectors found so much.

Answer 1

The correct answer is b. Thousands of prospectors traveled west in search of gold and silver.

The Comstock Lode, which was a massive deposit of silver and gold, attracted thousands of prospectors to the western part of the United States in the mid-1800s. This led to the development of mining towns, increased economic growth in the region, and the expansion of infrastructure, such as railroads and telegraph lines. The discovery of the Comstock Lode also helped finance the Union's efforts during the Civil War.