American History Chapter 20

1862

The Homestead Act

1867

Purchase of Alaska

1869

Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad

1898

Spanish-American War

1900

Hawaii became an organized U.S. Territory

The Great Northern

5th transcontinental railroad greatly developed by the private funding of James J. Hill

Cornelius Vanderbilt

integrated railroad lines and provided service from NY to Chicago and St. Louis

Jay Gould

most successful railroad business tycoon

Standard Gauge

Same distance between railroads on all railroads

George Pullman

developed the “sleeping car” for travel

George Westinghouse

developed the airbrake

1860

By what year did Railroads became the main form of transportation

Union Pacific Railroad

Who was hired to lay track west from Nebraska

Central Pacific Railroad

Who was hired to lay track East from California

Promontory Point, Utah

Where did Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroad met and completed the railroad

James J. Hill

Who privately funded The Great Northern

1800s

What years brought the greatest decade of railroad growth in American history

Westen Union Company

Controlled most of the telegraph networks across the country

Time Zones

Allowed trains to be “on time” as they travelled great distances

Chisholm Trail

favorite route of long cattle drives

Cow Towns

towns where herds met rail lines

Refrigerator Car

made it possible to ship fresh beef to industrial centers

Homestead Act (1862)

Allowed farmers to receive 160 acres in the West for $10 upon agreeing to live on it and improve it for 5 years

James Oliver

chilled-iron plow

Joseph Glidden

barbed wire (1874)

Great Plains

The nation’s breadbasket

Charles Alfred Pillsbury

known for flour milling processes and mills in Mineapolis (largest world in the world)

Nevada

Added to the Union in 1864

Nebraska

Added to the Union in 1867

Colorado

added to the Union 100 years after the Declaration of Independence; The Centennial State

Beef

What industry grew in the West due to large herds of Texas Longhorns

Meatpacking houses

What was Kansas City and Chicago known for

Centennial State

What is Colorado known as

Oklahoma

Last Western state settled by “sooners” (came prior to its opening), “boomers” (waited at the boundary line for the opening)

Sioux

One of the most powerful tribes of the Northern plains

Battle of Little BigHorn

most famous battle of the Sioux War;

Nez Perce

led by Chief Joseph

Fiercest Tribe

The Apache

Geronimo

famous leader of the Apache

Wounded Knee

last major conflict between America and the Native Americans; many innoicent natives were killed in this massacre

Wovoka

native American who introduced the “Ghost Dance”

Helen Jackson

A Century of Dishonor; a description of the unjust treatment of the native Americans

Indian Reorganization Act

created reservation lands for Indian tribes across America

Dime Novels

sensational stories about the West

Kit Carson

one of the best-known heroes of the West; Carson City is named for him

William F. Cody

also known as “Buffalo Bill” because of his hunting escapades; performed in WIld West Shows in the East

Wyat Earp and James “Wild Bill” Hickok

famous lawmen

Calamity Jane and Annie Oakley

famous women of the West

1890

In what year was the West completely colonized

Buffalo

What destruction posed the greatest threat to the natives

Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull

Who killed Colonel George A. Custer and his soldiers

Chief Joseph

Who led Nez Perce

A Century of Dishonor

What book did Helen Jackson publish

Carson City

What city is named after Kit Carson

Wild West Shows

What did William F. Cody perform in