2 - Westward Expansion

Social Studies Final Review

Extermination of the Plains Indians

US government killed off the buffalo so the Indians would have no food or skin for clothing and eventually wipe of the Indians.

With no more buffalo for the Indians to use, they had no choice but to go onto reservations to survive.

Reservastion

Government land where Indians were forced to live on after their land was taken away

Fort Laramie Treaty

The government agreed to make yearly payments to the tribes, promised they could live and hunt on the land forever. Gave the government the right to build roads and forts, but there were to be defined boundaries for where the Indians could hunt.

Chinese Exclusion Act

A document that prevented Chinese immigrants from entering the US. This was the first group of people excluded from entering the United States.

Homestead Act of 1862

Provided 160 acres of land to settlers for a small registration fee. Settlers had to live on the land for 5 years.

Transcontinental Railroad

A railroad build all across the US - from Atlantic to Pacific Oceans - Led to growth of industry and trade

Dawes Act

Broke up Indian reservations and forced them to sell off their land. The Dawes Act was enacted to prevent future battles between Indians and White men, they wanted to have the Indians assimilate into the American way.