History Chapter 2 Notes

Frederick Jackson Turner's Thesis

Argued that the American frontier was crucial in shaping American democracy; its 'closing' raised identity concerns for the nation.

Homestead Act of 1862

Granted 160 acres of public land to citizens who paid a small fee and lived on it for five years, encouraging settlement.

Transcontinental Railroad

Completed in 1869, it facilitated mass migration and goods transportation, significantly reducing travel time and costs.

Indian Wars

Violent conflicts between the U.S. Army and Native American tribes resisting land encroachment.

Dawes Act (1887)

Aimed to break up tribal lands into individual allotments to promote farming and resulted in loss of tribal lands.

Buffalo Extermination

Deliberate policy that nearly drove the American bison to extinction, significantly impacting Plains tribes.

Cattle Kingdom

Large-scale cattle ranching in the Great Plains driven by beef demand, involving long cattle drives to railheads.

Mining Booms

Rapid settlement driven by gold and silver discoveries, later leading to ghost towns after resources were depleted.

Social and Cultural Transformations

The West was diverse with various cultures; women played crucial roles, and informal justice systems emerged in boomtowns.