Closing the Am. West

Great American Desert

Term used in the 19th century to describe the western plains of the United States as barren and unsuitable for settlement or agriculture.

Turner Thesis

Historian Frederick Jackson Turner's thesis arguing the American frontier shaped the American character and democracy.

Comstock Lode

Major silver deposit discovered in Nevada in 1859, leading to a mining boom.

Open Range

Practice of allowing cattle to roam freely on unfenced land in the western United States.

Joseph McCoy (Abilene, KS)

Cattle trader who established Abilene, Kansas, as a major railhead for the cattle industry.

Vaqueros

Mexican and Spanish cowboys who played a significant role in the early cattle industry in the American West.

Joseph Glidden

Inventor of barbed wire, revolutionizing the cattle industry.

Homestead Act (1862)

Law offering 160 acres of free land to settlers in the American West.

Sodbusters

Settlers who used plows to farm the tough sod of the Great Plains.

Oklahoma Land Rush (“Sooners”)

Chaotic settlement of the Oklahoma Territory in 1889.

Daniel Halladay

Inventor of the self-regulating windmill crucial for providing water in arid regions.

Treaties of Ft

Agreements between the U.S. and Native American tribes to establish peace and boundaries.

Sioux War, 1862

Conflict between the U.S. government and Sioux tribes in Minnesota.

Sand Creek Massacre (1864) – Col

Brutal attack on a Cheyenne and Arapaho village in Colorado.

Little Bighorn (June, 1876)

Battle between the U.S. Army and Native American tribes, primarily the Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne.

Wounded Knee, 1890

Confrontation between the U.S. Army and the Lakota Sioux, marking the end of armed conflict.

A Century of Dishonor (1881) Helen Hunt Jackson

Book exposing mistreatment of Native Americans by the U.S. government.

Dawes Act (1887)

Law aiming to assimilate Native Americans by dividing reservation land.

“Republican Era” (1869-1913)

Period of Republican dominance focusing on industrialization and westward expansion.

McKinley Tariff (49.5%)

Tariff raising tariffs to their highest level in American history.

Charles Guiteau

Assassin of President James A. Garfield in 1881.

Pendleton Act, 1882

Law establishing a merit-based civil service system.

“Free silver” vs

Debate over the monetary system in the late 19th century.

Currency inflation/deflation

Increase or decrease in the value of money relative to goods and services.

“Third Party Revolt”

Rise of third-party movements challenging the dominance of the two major parties.

Granger Movement/Alliance Movement

Grassroots movements addressing economic challenges facing farmers.

Populist Party (1890s) “Omaha Platform” (1892)

Political party representing farmers and laborers.

William Jennings Bryan

Prominent politician known for his support of free silver.

Election of 1896

Pivotal election between William McKinley and William Jennings Bryan.

“Silverites” vs “Gold bugs”

Supporters of free silver versus supporters of the gold standard.

“Cross of Gold” speech

William Jennings Bryan's speech advocating for the free coinage of silver.