APUSH QUIZ week 16

Turner Thesis

Definition: The Turner Thesis, written by historian Frederick Jackson Turner in 1893, argued that the American frontier shaped the nation’s character by promoting democracy, individualism, and innovation.

Historical Significance: It influenced how Americans understood westward expansion and justified further expansion by claiming that the frontier played a key role in American identity.

Dawes Act (1887)

Definition: A U.S. law that divided Native American tribal lands into individual family plots in an attempt to make Native people adopt white American farming practices.

Historical Significance: It resulted in the loss of millions of acres of Native land and weakened tribal culture, contributing to long-term economic and cultural harm for Native nations.

Ghost Dance

Definition: A spiritual movement practiced by several Native American tribes in the late 1800s, which promised the return of the buffalo and the disappearance of white settlers if performed correctly.

Historical Significance: The U.S. government viewed it as a threat, leading to the tragic Wounded Knee Massacre (1890), symbolizing the violent suppression of Native culture.

Homestead Act (1862)

Definition: A law that offered 160 acres of free land to anyone willing to farm it for five years.

Historical Significance: It encouraged massive westward migration and settlement but also dispossessed Native communities as settlers moved onto their lands.

Transcontinental Railroad (Completed 1869)

Definition: The first railroad to connect the East and West coasts of the United States, allowing people and goods to travel across the country quickly.

Historical Significance: It stimulated economic growth, encouraged western settlement, and increased U.S. industrial power—but also led to the displacement of Native Americans and harsh labor conditions for workers, especially Chinese immigrants.

Reservation System

Definition: A policy that forced Native American tribes to live on specific, government-designated areas called reservations.

Historical Significance: It restricted Native peoples’ freedom, broke apart traditional ways of life, and allowed the U.S. to take more Native land for settlers and industry.