American Imperialism and Westward Expansion: Key Events and Concepts

Homestead Act of 1862

Gave settlers land for farming

Exodusters

African Americans who migrated from states along the Mississippi River to Kansas

Transcontinental Railroad

Which groups of immigrants worked on which railroad?

Union Pacific Railroad

Built from the East and worked by Irish immigrants

Central Pacific Railroad

Built from the West and worked by Chinese immigrants

Reservation

Specific areas set aside by the government for use by Native Americans

Eminent Domain

5th Amendment- the right of the government to take any land as long as it is for the public good (with compensation)

Great Plains Native Americans

Sioux, Cheyenne, Kiowa

Battle of Little Bighorn

Custer vs. Native Americans and Custer defeated. U.S. army defeated natives, withheld food to reservations to force natives to agree to U.S. demands

Ghost Dance Ritual

Religious ceremony that celebrated Native American roots; dancers joined hands, danced, chanted and prayed. Settlers saw it as a war cry and demanded the government force Natives to stop

Wounded Knee Massacre

On December 29, 1890, during a tense surrender, a shot was accidentally fired and the Army opened fire, killing nearly 300 Lakota men, women, and children.

George Custer

U.S. general

Crazy Horse

Sioux warrior

Sitting Bull

Sioux leader

Imperialism

When a country expands control over other countries (military, political, or economic)

Yellow Journalism

A sensational style of reporting that often exaggerated the truth in order to shock and capture the attention of the reader.

1898 Sinking of the USS Maine

The ship blew up on February 15, 1898. 260 sailors died in the blast or drowned in the sinking ship.

Spanish American War

Triggered by USS Maine explosion and U.S. defeated Spain

Rough Riders

Volunteer cavalry led by Theodore Roosevelt

U.S. gained Guam, Puerto Rico, Philippines

Be able to identify and describe these examples of American Imperialism