ACC U.S. History Review - Changes in the West

What is Frederick Jackson Turner's Frontier Thesis about?

It emphasizes the importance of the West and the end of the Frontier, arguing that U.S. culture evolved from a unique environment and the experiences of settlers.

What characteristics did Turner attribute to Americans forged on the frontier?

Strength, acquisitiveness, quick problem-solving, high skill in craft and trade, restlessness, and dominant individualism.

What critique did Patricia Nelson Limerick offer against Turner's Frontier Thesis?

Limerick argued that the frontier was not a success but rather a site of oppression for Native Americans, women, and Mexicans, and criticized the idealization of rugged individualism.

What were some criticisms of Turner's Frontier Thesis by later historians?

Critics argued that Turner placed too much importance on the frontier, ignored the perspectives of 'victims', and failed to acknowledge the role of the federal government and industries.

What was the Indian Removal Act of 1830?

It was a law that facilitated the forced relocation of thousands of Native Americans west of the Mississippi River in exchange for their lands.

What was the significance of the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1851?

It established a short period of peace allowing settlers to legally travel through Native lands.

How did the U.S. government manipulate Native Americans regarding treaties?

The government often coerced Natives into signing treaties with threats and false promises, and frequently changed the terms of treaties.

What was the Trail of Tears?

The forced migration of the Cherokee people during 1838-39, resulting in significant suffering and death.

What were the consequences of U.S. settlers trespassing onto Native lands?

Increased population density and resource exploitation led to the forced removal of Native Americans, often through violence.

What did Turner mean by 'Destructive Competition'?

He suggested that competition among settlers strengthened society despite its destructive nature.

What is the concept of 'Triumphant Evolution' in Turner's thesis?

It refers to the idea that the American character evolved positively through the challenges and experiences of the frontier.

What was one of the key themes in both Turner and Limerick's perspectives?

Both reflected the values of their own cultures in their historical narratives.

How did Turner view the relationship between Americans and nature?

Turner believed that harnessing and managing nature could produce good benefits, but he also idealized the notion of leaving nature minimally harmed.

What was a common outcome of treaties signed between the U.S. government and Native Americans?

Most treaties were broken by both sides, leading to violence and mistrust.

What did Turner assert about the violence of Americans on the frontier?

He claimed that Americans were more violent due to their frontier experiences.

What was the role of the federal government in the context of Native American relations?

The government had little control over citizens or Natives and often failed to uphold treaty obligations.

What did Turner suggest about the impact of the frontier on American democracy?

He believed that the frontier experience fostered individualism and a democratic spirit among settlers.

What did Turner and Limerick agree on regarding American culture?

Both had idealistic views on rugged individualism and the morality of American values.

How did the U.S. government often respond to Native American resistance?

The government frequently manipulated treaties and used threats to suppress Native resistance.

What was one of the criticisms regarding the portrayal of history in Turner's thesis?

It primarily presented the perspective of winners, neglecting the experiences of marginalized groups.

What did Limerick argue about the consequences of the frontier experience?

She argued that it led to oppression rather than the triumphal narrative presented by Turner.

What was the impact of corporate interests on cowboys and miners according to critiques of Turner?

Cowboys and miners were often seen as employees of corporate ranching or industrialized farms, undermining the individualistic narrative.

What was the purpose of the Treaty of Bosque Redondo in 1864?

It aimed to deport the Navajo people and relocate them to a reservation after their vulnerability to raids.

What significant event did the Navajo endure as part of the Treaty of Bosque Redondo?

The Long Walk, a 350-mile journey in winter to a new reservation.

What were the consequences of the Bosque Redondo reservation settlement?

It was a disaster with failed crops and high mortality rates among the Navajo.

What compensation did the Navajo receive upon their return in May 1868?

They received $150,000, 15,000 sheep and goats, and 500 head of cattle for rehabilitation.

What was the outcome of the 1867 Council at Medicine Lodge Creek?

Three treaties were signed to relocate Native Americans to reservations, but the treaties ultimately failed.

What rights were granted to Native Americans in the treaties signed at Medicine Lodge Creek?

They were guaranteed reservations, supplies, and the right to hunt bison outside their reservations.

What was the Sand Creek Massacre?

A brutal attack on a band of Cheyenne Native Americans by Colonel John Chivington and Colorado soldiers.

What justification did Colonel Chivington give for the Sand Creek Massacre?

He stated, 'Nits grow up to be lice,' justifying the killing of women and children.

What conflict arose as a result of the Sand Creek Massacre?

The Great Sioux War.

What was the Great Sioux War of 1876-1877 also known as?

The Black Hills War.

What triggered the Great Sioux War?

The discovery of gold in the Black Hills, which were promised lands to the Sioux.

What was the U.S. government's response to the Lakota Sioux's refusal to move from their land?

They threatened to use force and sent 1,000 army personnel to ensure compliance.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Little Bighorn?

It was a significant defeat for the U.S. army against the Lakota and Cheyenne.

Who was the U.S. military leader killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn?

Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer.

What did the treaties signed at Medicine Lodge Creek aim to achieve?

They aimed to bring peace by relocating Native Americans to reservations.

What were the terms of the treaties signed at Medicine Lodge Creek regarding territory?

Native Americans had to give up some territory but were guaranteed reservations.

What was the U.S. government's stance towards settlers during the Great Sioux War?

The government sided with the settlers and tried to convince the Lakota to relinquish their land.

What did the government promise to the Native Americans in exchange for their land during the Great Sioux War?

They offered to buy the land and relocate the Lakota to Oklahoma.

What was the fate of stragglers during the Long Walk of the Navajo?

Stragglers were shot, as they were assumed not to make it to the destination.

What was the significance of the treaties signed by the U.S. Indian Peace Commission?

They were intended to end fighting and establish peace but ultimately failed.

What was the impact of the U.S. government's actions on Native American tribes during this period?

The actions led to displacement, broken treaties, and ongoing conflict.

What was the role of the U.S. Indian Peace Commission in the treaties?

They facilitated the signing of treaties with various Native American leaders.

What were the consequences of the U.S. government's failure to uphold treaty obligations?

Continued raids and conflicts between Native Americans and settlers.

What event led to the U.S. cutting off food supplies to the Sioux?

The death of 210 U.S. soldiers in the conflict with Custer and his men.

What was the outcome for the Sioux and Cheyenne by Spring 1877?

They began to surrender.

What did the Lakota continue to fight for after the conflicts?

To have the Black Hills restored to them.

Who was Crazy Horse and what happened to him?

A prominent warrior known as the best killer of white men; he was captured alive, surrendered in 1877, and was killed in captivity.

What was Sitting Bull known for among the Lakota?

He was a huge celebrity for having accurate visions and refused to leave the reservation before the Great Sioux War.

What did Sitting Bull do after the U.S. government pressured him?

He led his followers to Canada.

When did Sitting Bull surrender?

In July 1881.

What was Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and who founded it?

An extremely popular theater show founded by William Cody in 1883, portraying Natives as the antagonists.

Why did Sitting Bull participate in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show?

He was offered a large amount of money.

What was the Ghost Dance movement?

A spiritual movement in the late 1880s that included Native beliefs and some Christian elements, which disturbed reservation officials.

What happened to Sitting Bull during the Ghost Dance arrests?

He was arrested by officials who believed he started the Ghost Dance and was shot during a struggle.

What was the outcome of the Battle of Wounded Knee?

A panic led to U.S. soldiers firing on Lakota, resulting in 200-300 Lakota deaths and 31 U.S. soldiers killed or wounded.

What was the purpose of the Carlisle Indian School?

To culturally assimilate Native Americans and force them away from their families.

When was the Carlisle Indian School founded and what was its approach?

Founded in 1879, it aimed to teach Native students English and American culture while punishing them for using their native languages.

What was the Indian Rights Association (IRA) and who founded it?

Founded by Herbert Welsh in 1882, it aimed to dismantle tribal structures and advocate for citizenship for American Indians.

What beliefs did the Indian Rights Association promote?

They believed Indians could become citizens and equal under American law, promoting farming over hunting and Christianity as a solution to Indian problems.

What were the consequences for students at the Carlisle Indian School if they disobeyed rules?

They would be punished for speaking their native language or not using their given names.

What did the IRA do to represent Native American interests?

They lobbied Congress and traveled to reservations to report on conditions.

What was the perception of many Native Americans regarding the Carlisle Indian School?

Many believed it would provide their children with a better future.

What significant event occurred as a result of Sitting Bull's death?

His followers fled to a neighboring reservation and were subsequently surrounded by U.S. troops.

What was the role of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs in the Carlisle Indian School?

They supervised the school and enforced assimilation policies.

What did the U.S. government believe about Sitting Bull's safety in Canada?

They thought it would be dangerous for him among the Natives, which is why they sought his return.

What was the purpose of the Dawes Severality Act of 1887?

To assimilate Native Americans into U.S. society by encouraging farming and dividing tribal lands into individual plots.

What significant change did the Dawes Act bring to Native American land ownership?

It reduced Native American lands by two-thirds and disturbed many households by allotting 160 acres for farming or ranching.

Who signed the Dawes Severality Act into law?

President Grover Cleveland.

What was the impact of the Dawes Act on Native Americans?

Many Native Americans ended up homeless and had trouble adapting to the new lifestyle imposed by the Act.

What were some of the assimilation measures promoted by Henry Dawes?

Allowed Natives to wear civilized clothes, live in houses, cultivate land, ride in wagons, send children to school, drink whiskey, and own property.

Who was Alice Fletcher and what was her role in relation to the Dawes Act?

An ethnologist who supported the Dawes Act, believing that assimilation was essential for the survival of Native Americans.

What was the significance of the Lone Wolf vs. Hitchcock case?

The Supreme Court confirmed Congress's absolute power over Native American property, ignoring previous treaties.

What was the Comstock Lode and its importance?

Discovered in 1859, it was the most valuable silver deposit in the U.S. and led to the growth of Virginia City, NV.

Who was Philip Deidesheimer and what was his contribution to mining?

He invented square set timbering, which saved countless lives in the Comstock and other mining operations.

What was the purpose of the Homestead Act of 1862?

To provide 160 acres of federal land to anyone willing to farm it, promoting development of the American West.

What was the impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882?

It disallowed Chinese immigration and alienated those already in the U.S., marking the first restriction of immigration into the country.

What was the role of railroad land grants in the U.S. government policy?

They facilitated the transfer of land from the government to private railroad companies, with about 7% of U.S. land granted by 1870.

What was the Cattle Kingdom and what factors contributed to its decline?

A period when longhorn cattle breeding was popular in Texas, which declined due to bad winters and the need for private land.

What was the structure of government in U.S. territories?

Territorial governors were appointed by the President, controlled militia, and were overseen by the Interior Department; territories had elected legislative assemblies.

What was the significance of the Anti-Bigamy Act of 1862?

It restricted polygamy among Mormons and led to Utah becoming the second territory to allow women to vote in 1870.

What technological advancement did Edison introduce in 1877?

The phonograph, which recorded and played back sound.

How did Alice Fletcher use the phonograph in her work?

She recorded Native American music to preserve their cultural heritage.

What was the primary reason for the decline in the Chinese population in the U.S. after the Chinese Exclusion Act?

The Act led to a significant reduction in Chinese immigration and increased discrimination.

What were the views of miners and support personnel regarding their work in Virginia City?

They had varied views, with some seeing exploitation and pollution, while others believed they were harnessing the earth's riches for good.

What was the significance of the water system designed by Hermann Schussler?

It was the greatest pressurized water system in the world, bringing water from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Virginia City.

What was the effect of the Dawes Act on treaties with Native Americans?

The Act ignored several treaties and allowed legislators to decide what was best for Native Americans, undermining their rights.

What was the role of the workingman's party of California in the Chinese Exclusion Act?

They promoted the Act, believing that Chinese immigrants were driving down wages for American workers.

What was the economic purpose of the Homestead Act?

To spur economic growth and develop the American West by providing land for farming.