Chapter 17

Boomtowns

towns that grew rapidly due to the discovery of gold or other valuable resources in the area.

Great Plains

vast, flat region of North America that stretches from the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi River, known for its dry climate and grasslands.

Joseph Glidden

inventor of barbed wire, which revolutionized farming and ranching by making it easier to enclose livestock.

Sharecropping

agricultural system where landowners allow tenants to use their land in exchange for a portion of the crops harvested.

Munn v. Illinois

1877 Supreme Court case that upheld state regulation of private industries that affected the public interest, such as railroads and grain elevators.

Plains Tribes

Native American tribes that lived on the Great Plains, including the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Comanche.

Tenant Farmers

farmers who rent land from a landowner and often pay rent in the form of crops.

Cooperatives

organizations formed by farmers to pool resources and reduce costs, such as purchasing equipment or selling crops.

Longhorns

a breed of cattle originally from Spain, popular in the American West for their hardiness and adaptability to the harsh conditions of the Great Plains.

Vaqueros

Spanish-speaking cowhands or ranch workers, considered the original cowboys of the American West.

Cattle Drives

long journeys where cowboys moved large herds of cattle from ranches to railheads, where they were shipped to markets.

Wabash v. Illinois

1886 Supreme Court case that limited states' ability to regulate interstate commerce, particularly affecting railroads.

Indian Reorganization Act of 1934

federal law aimed at reversing previous policies of assimilation and promoting Native American self-governance and land management.

Barbed Wire

wire with sharp edges or points, invented by Joseph Glidden, used to fence off land and protect crops or livestock.

Little Big Horn

site of the 1876 battle in which Native American forces, led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, defeated General Custer's troops.

Forest Management Act of 1897

law that established a framework for the conservation and management of U.S. forest lands.

Ida B. Wells

African American journalist and activist who led an anti-lynching campaign in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Department of Interior

U.S. government department responsible for managing federal lands, natural resources, and the welfare of Native American tribes.

Jim Crow Laws

state and local laws in the South that enforced racial segregation and disenfranchised African Americans.

New South

term used to describe the South after the Civil War, characterized by industrialization, a shift from agriculture to manufacturing, and changes in race relations.

Sierra Club

environmental organization founded in 1892, dedicated to conservation and the preservation of public lands.

Ghost Dance

a religious movement among Native American tribes in the late 19th century, believed to restore Native lands and culture through a ceremonial dance.

Dry Farming

agricultural method used in arid regions that relies on conserving moisture in the soil to grow crops, often used in the Great Plains.

George Washington Carver

African American agricultural scientist and inventor known for his work with peanuts and crop rotation.

Yellowstone

The first national park in the United States, established in 1872 to preserve the area's natural wonders and wildlife.

Yosemite

A national park in California, famous for its stunning natural scenery, including granite cliffs and giant sequoia trees.

Poll Taxes

Taxes levied as a prerequisite for voting, often used to disenfranchise African Americans and poor white voters in the South.

Interstate Commerce Commission

Federal agency established in 1887 to regulate railroad rates and other practices affecting interstate commerce.

Helen Hunt Jackson

Author and activist who wrote about the injustices faced by Native Americans, particularly in her book A Century of Dishonor.

Forest Reserve Act of 1891

Law that authorized the president to set aside public lands as national forests, expanding the U.S. conservation effort.

Literacy Tests

Exams used to determine whether a person could read or write, often used in the South to prevent African Americans from voting.

Dawes Act of 1887

Law that aimed to assimilate Native Americans by breaking up tribal lands into individual allotments for farming.

Tuskegee Institute

Historically black college in Alabama, founded by Booker T. Washington, that focused on industrial and vocational training.

Grandfather Clauses

Laws that allowed white people to bypass literacy tests and other voting restrictions if their ancestors had been eligible to vote.

Assimilationists

People or policies that sought to integrate Native Americans into mainstream white society, often at the expense of their cultures.

John Muir

Naturalist and founder of the Sierra Club, an advocate for the preservation of wilderness areas in the U.S.

Booker T. Washington

African American educator and leader who promoted vocational training and self-help as means of advancing African Americans.

Plessy v. Ferguson

1896 Supreme Court decision that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Crop Price Deflation

Decline in the market prices for agricultural products, often leading to economic hardship for farmers.

Economic Discrimination

Unequal treatment of individuals based on their economic status, often affecting minorities and the poor.

Preservationists

Individuals or groups that advocate for the protection and preservation of natural environments from human exploitation.

Frederick Jackson Turner

Historian known for his 'Frontier Thesis,' which argued that the American frontier played a key role in shaping U.S. democracy and culture.

Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

Law that prohibited Chinese immigration to the U.S. and limited the rights of Chinese immigrants already in the country.

Ocala Platform of 1890

A political platform adopted by farmers' alliances, advocating for reforms like the direct election of senators, a graduated income tax, and currency expansion.

Granger Laws

State laws passed in the late 19th century that regulated railroad rates and grain elevator fees, largely supported by agrarian groups like the Grange.