Time Period 6 revised 2024.docx

George Armstrong Custer

An American army officer and cavalry commander known for his role in the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Battle of Little Bighorn

A 1876 battle where Custer's troops were defeated by Native American forces.

Wounded Knee Massacre

An 1890 confrontation between U.S. Army soldiers and Lakota Sioux that resulted in significant Native American casualties.

Morrill Tariff Act (1861)

A law that increased tariffs on imported goods to protect American industry during the Civil War.

Homestead Act (1862)

Legislation that encouraged Western migration by providing settlers land.

Pacific Railway Act (1862)

Federal law that helped to fund the construction of the first transcontinental railroad.

Transcontinental Railroad

The first railway that connected the eastern U.S. to the western U.S.

American Bison (Buffalo)

A large mammal that was integral to the life and culture of Native American tribes.

Comstock Lode

A significant silver ore discovery in Nevada that triggered a large rush of miners in the mid-19th century.

Boomtowns

Quickly growing towns that developed around mining sites.

Texas Longhorn Cattle

A breed of cattle known for their long horns, developed from cattle brought by Spanish settlers.

Sodbusters

Farmers who moved to the Great Plains to cultivate the land, often breaking the tough soil.

Barbed Wire

A type of fencing material that became popular in the late 19th century and was used to enclose land.

National Grange of Patrons of Husbandry

An organization for farmers that sought to advance their economic interests.

Munn v. Illinois (1877)

A Supreme Court case that upheld the right of states to regulate businesses, particularly railroads.

Ghost Dance Movement

A Native American spiritual movement that encouraged a ceremonial 'dance' to restore Native American culture.

Sitting Bull

A Hunkpapa Lakota leader who led his people during years of resistance to United States government policies.

Dawes Severalty Act (1887)

Legislation aimed at assimilating Native Americans by allotting them individual plots of land.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

A landmark Supreme Court decision that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Jim Crow Laws

State and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States.

Social Darwinism

A theory that applied Darwinian principles of natural selection to social, political, and economic issues.

Gilded Age

A period in U.S. history characterized by rapid economic growth and ostentatious displays of wealth.

Collective Bargaining

The process of negotiation between employers and a group of employees aimed at reaching agreements on working conditions.

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

Federal legislation that prohibited all Chinese laborers from entering the United States.

Settlement Houses

Community centers established in poor urban areas to provide services and education to the community.

Gospel of Wealth

A philosophy that wealthy individuals have the responsibility to use their riches to advance social progress.

Interstate Commerce Act (1887)

A law that regulated the railroad industry and required rates to be reasonable and just.

Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)

A landmark federal statute aimed at prohibiting monopolistic practices.

People’s Party (Populists)

A political party formed in the 1890s that sought to represent the interests of farmers and laborers.

Election of 1896

A key election in U.S. history marked by a significant debate over currency, leading to the victory of William McKinley.