US history - THE WEST

What act funded the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad?

The Pacific Railway Act of 1862

Which two companies built the Transcontinental Railroad?

Union Pacific and Central Pacific

Where did the two railroads meet to complete the Transcontinental Railroad?

Promontory Point, Utah

What significant event took place at Promontory Point in 1869?

The Golden Spike ceremony

How did the Transcontinental Railroad transform the United States?

It connected national markets, encouraged westward migration, helped industries grow, and increased conflict with Native Americans.

What challenges did the Union Pacific Railroad face during construction?

Harsh weather, attacks from Native American tribes, and corruption among investors.

Who primarily worked on the Union Pacific Railroad?

Irish immigrants and Civil War veterans

What was the Credit Mobilier scandal?

A scandal involving Union Pacific leaders who illegally profited from government contracts.

What geographical challenges did the Central Pacific Railroad encounter?

They had to blast tunnels through mountains and lay track through snow and cliffs.

Which group of workers was heavily relied upon for the Central Pacific Railroad construction?

Chinese immigrant laborers

What were some push factors for Chinese immigration to the United States?

Poverty, political unrest, and the Taiping Rebellion in China.

What was the Workingmen's Party of California's stance on Chinese immigration?

They believed Chinese workers were lowering wages and pushed for restrictions on immigration.

What did the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 do?

It banned Chinese laborers from immigrating and prevented them from becoming U.S. citizens.

What does nativism refer to?

The belief that native-born Americans should be favored over immigrants.

What did the Homestead Act of 1862 offer to settlers?

160 acres of free land if they lived on it for five years and farmed the land.

Who were the Exodusters?

African Americans who migrated to Kansas in search of land and freedom after the Civil War.

What was the belief behind the theory 'Rain Follows the Plow'?

The idea that farming would increase rainfall and make dry areas fertile.

What impact did the Transcontinental Railroad have on Native Americans?

It increased conflict as it cut through their land and disrupted buffalo migration.

What were some difficulties faced by homesteaders under the Homestead Act?

Drought, harsh winters, poor soil, and isolation.

What was the significance of Kansas for African American migrants after the Civil War?

It was seen as a symbol of opportunity and had been a free state during the Civil War.

What was a major consequence of the Transcontinental Railroad on trade?

It allowed goods to move across the country quickly.

What role did the cattle and mining industries play in relation to the Transcontinental Railroad?

The railroad helped these industries grow by facilitating transport and trade.

What was a common perception of Chinese workers by white laborers in California?

They believed Chinese workers were taking jobs and lowering wages.

What was the outcome of the anti-Chinese sentiment in the U.S. during the Gilded Age?

It led to the Chinese Exclusion Act and increased discrimination against Chinese immigrants.

What theory suggested that farming would increase rainfall in dry areas during westward expansion?

Rain Follows the Plow

What was the Great American Desert?

A term used by early explorers like Stephen Long to describe the Great Plains as unsuitable for farming.

What were boomtowns?

Mining towns that grew rapidly when gold or silver was discovered, often chaotic and short-lived.

What was the Long Drive?

The journey where Texas ranchers drove cattle hundreds of miles to railroad towns for shipping to eastern cities.

What is the Chisholm Trail?

The most famous cattle trail, stretching from Texas to Kansas railroads, facilitating cattle transport.

What triggered the Dakota Uprising in 1862?

Frustration over hunger due to broken treaties and delayed government payments.

What was the outcome of the Dakota Uprising?

The U.S. military suppressed the uprising and executed 38 Dakota men, the largest mass execution in U.S. history.

What happened at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876?

Native American forces defeated U.S. cavalry led by George Custer, resulting in Custer's Last Stand.

What was the Ghost Dance?

A religious movement among Native Americans believing that it would restore buffalo and their lands.

What occurred during the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890?

U.S. soldiers killed around 300 Lakota men, women, and children, effectively ending organized Native American resistance.

What was the Dawes Act of 1887?

A law that divided tribal lands into individual farms, aiming to assimilate Native Americans into American culture.

What does assimilation mean in the context of Native Americans?

Forcing Native Americans to adopt the culture, language, and lifestyle of the dominant society.

What was the role of the Bureau of Indian Affairs?

The federal agency responsible for managing Native American reservations and enforcing government policies.

Who was Helen Hunt Jackson?

An activist and writer who exposed injustices against Native Americans in her book 'A Century of Dishonor.'

What challenges did homesteaders face when moving west?

Drought, grasshopper swarms, isolation, and lack of building materials.

What is the Frontier Thesis proposed by Frederick Jackson Turner?

The idea that the American frontier shaped national identity by promoting independence, democracy, and individualism.

How was the West romanticized in popular culture?

Through novels, Wild West shows, and movies portraying cowboys and outlaws as heroic figures.

What was the impact of droughts on the belief in 'Rain Follows the Plow'?

Droughts proved the theory wrong, contributing to farm failures in the Great Plains.

What did Stephen Long's exploration contribute to American perceptions of the Great Plains?

His description of the region as the Great American Desert influenced early views of its agricultural potential.

What characterized the environment of boomtowns?

Chaotic conditions with gambling, saloons, crime, and little government oversight.

What was the significance of the Chisholm Trail for the cattle industry?

It facilitated the transport of cattle to meet the growing demand for beef in eastern cities.