What did hernán cortés do after the aztec emperor montezuma ii welcomed him to tenochtitlán? he took the emperor captive. he burned his own ships. he met with atahualpa. he encountered the pacific ocean.

Ibelieve that cortes took moctezuma captive and burned his own ships so that his men would fight harder to defeat the aztecs knowing that they had no escape on the ships, at least until new ones could be built. he was a ruthless conquistador who would stop at nothing to defeat the aztecs and steal their riches in silver and gold.

The transcontinental railroad provided a means of fast transportation. it cut a 6 month trip into 6 days, created jobs for many people and encouraged immigration. the homestead act played a huge role in western expansion; it allowed settlers to begin a fresh start, and gave them land in exchange for their residence for up to five years and a small fee.