CHAPTER 17 AMSCO VOCAB

Great American Desert

A region of the western United States characterized by sparse rainfall and harsh conditions, traditionally considered unsuitable for farming.

100th Meridian

An imaginary line designated at 100 degrees west longitude, historically used to delineate the boundary between the humid eastern United States and the arid West.

Buffalo herds

Large groups of buffalo that roamed the Great Plains, significant both ecologically and economically for Indigenous peoples and settlers.

Great Plains

A vast expanse of flat land in the central United States, known for its agriculture and grazing.

Mineral Resources

Natural substances found in the earth, including metals and fossil fuels, that are extracted for economic use.

Mining Frontier, boomtowns

Communities that rapidly grow around mining sites due to the influx of miners.

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

A federal law prohibiting all Chinese laborers from entering the United States, reflecting widespread anti-Chinese sentiment.

Commercial cities

Urban centers primarily focused on commerce and trade, often emerging in conjunction with natural resource industries.

Longhorns, vaqueros

Longhorn cattle, originating from Spanish cattle; vaqueros were skilled horsemen and herders who managed cattle.

Cattle drives

The process of herding cattle overland to market or grazing areas, often along established trails.

Barbed wire

Fencing material with sharp spikes used to secure property and manage livestock, pivotal in changing the Open Range.

Joseph Glidden

Inventor of barbed wire, which revolutionized fencing in the 19th century.

Homestead Act

A law that granted 160 acres of public land to settlers, provided they improve the land and reside on it for five years.

Dry Farming

An agricultural practice designed to cultivate crops in arid regions, requiring minimal irrigation.

Great Plains tribes

Indigenous peoples who inhabited the Great Plains, reliant on buffalo for sustenance and culture.

Southwest tribes

Native American groups located in the Southwestern United States, known for their distinct cultures and agricultural practices.

Federal treaty policies

Agreements made between the U.S. government and Native American tribes, often leading to land cessions and reservations.

Causes of 'Indian Wars'

Factors leading to armed conflict between Native Americans and settlers/government, including land disputes and broken treaties.

Little Big Horn

A 1876 battle where the Lakota and Cheyenne defeated U.S. forces, notable for its significance in Native American resistance.

Assimilationists

Individuals or groups advocating for Native Americans to abandon their cultures and adopt European-American customs.

Helen Hunt Jackson

An author and activist who wrote about Native American injustices, notably in her book 'A Century of Dishonor.'

Dawes Act of 1887

Legislation aimed at assimilating Native Americans by allotting them individual plots of land and granting U.S. citizenship.

Ghost Dance Movement

A religious movement among Native Americans in the late 19th century that sought to restore their lands and way of life.

Indian Reorganization Act of 1934

A federal legislation aimed at reversing the Dawes Act and restoring some degree of self-governance to Native American tribes.

Mexican War aftermath

The period following the Mexican-American War, marked by significant land and population changes affecting Mexican Americans.

Spanish-speaking area

Regions in the United States, particularly in the Southwest, where Spanish is commonly spoken due to historical and cultural influences.

Migration for jobs

The movement of individuals, particularly Mexican Americans, seeking employment opportunities in agriculture and industry.

Deforestation

The large-scale removal of trees from forested areas, posing ecological and environmental risks.

Yellowstone, Yosemite

National parks established to preserve natural beauty and wildlife, with significant historical and cultural importance.

Department of Interior

U.S. government agency responsible for the management of land and natural resources, including national parks.

Conservationists and preservationists

Individuals advocating for the responsible use of natural resources versus those seeking to protect nature from human activity.

Forest Reserve Act of 1891

Legislation allowing the president to set aside forest reserves from the public domain.

Forest Management Act of 1897

A law aimed at ensuring the sustainable management of national forests.

John Muir, Sierra Club

John Muir was a naturalist and conservationist instrumental in the creation of national parks; the Sierra Club is an environmental organization founded by Muir.

New South

A term referring to the post-Civil War South that sought to modernize and diversify its economy, moving away from dependence on agriculture.

Henry Grady

A journalist and orator influential in promoting the idea of the 'New South.'

Birmingham (Steel)

A city in Alabama that became a major steel-producing center in the New South.

Memphis (lumber)

A Tennessee city known for its lumber industry and distribution center in the South.

Richmond (tobacco)

A Virginia city historically significant as a center for the tobacco industry.

Integrated rail network

A connected system of railway lines that facilitated transportation and trade across the Southern states.

Agriculture’s dominance

The continued significance of agriculture as the primary economic activity in the South post-Civil War.

Sharecropping; tenant farmers

Agricultural practices where workers farm land owned by others in exchange for a share of the crops or rent.

George Washington Carver

An agricultural scientist known for promoting crop rotation and diversification, particularly in peanut farming.

Tuskegee Institute

An educational institution founded by Booker T. Washington focused on vocational training for African Americans.

White Supremacists

Individuals or groups advocating for the dominance of white people over other racial groups.

Civil Rights cases of 1883

A series of Supreme Court decisions that weakened federal enforcement of civil rights protections for African Americans.

Plessy v. Ferguson

An 1896 Supreme Court case that upheld racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Jim Crow laws

State laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States.

Literacy tests, poll taxes, grandfather clauses

Discriminatory practices used to disenfranchise African American voters and others.

White primaries, white juries

Practices that limited political participation and justice to white individuals, excluding African Americans.

Lynch mobs

Groups that carried out extrajudicial killings, often targeting African Americans, particularly in the South.

Economic discrimination

Systematic inequalities faced by marginalized groups in employment, wages, and economic opportunities.

African American migration

The movement of African Americans from rural areas to urban centers, particularly during the Great Migration.

Ida B. Wells

An African American journalist and activist who campaigned against lynching and for civil rights.

Booker T. Washington

An educator and civil rights leader who advocated for vocational training and accommodation in the fight for African American rights.

Economic cooperation

Collective efforts by African Americans to build economic strength through mutual aid societies and cooperative businesses.

Markets and farmers

The relationship and interdependence between agricultural producers and the buyers of their goods.

Crop price deflation

A decline in the prices of agricultural products, negatively affecting farmers' profits.

Railroad and middlemen

The role of railroads in transporting goods and the intermediaries who profit from the sale of farm produce.

National Grange Movement

A farmers' organization advocating for political and economic reform to improve the conditions of farmers.

Cooperatives

Member-owned businesses that operate for the mutual benefit of their members, often seen in agricultural contexts.

Granger laws

Laws passed in the 1870s aimed at regulating the railroads and protecting farmers from monopolistic practices.

Munn v. Illinois

An 1877 Supreme Court case that allowed states to regulate private industry if it affected public interest, particularly railroads.

Interstate Commerce Commission

A regulatory agency established to oversee railroad operations and ensure fair rates.

Ocala Platform of 1890

A set of proposals by the Farmers' Alliance advocating for reform, including the regulation of railroads and direct election of senators.

Census of 1890

A population count that declared the American frontier closed, indicating a shift in the national narrative.

Frederick Jackson Turner, 'The Significance of the Frontier in American History'

An essay arguing that the American character was shaped by the frontier experience, promoting individualism and democracy.

Role of cities, 'Nature’s metropolis'

The concept that urban centers are interconnected with the natural environment and play a crucial role in society and culture.