Native American History and Labor Movements in the Late 19th Century

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from Native American history and labor movements in the late 19th century.

reservation system

The system that allotted land with designated boundaries to Native American tribes in the West, beginning in the 1850s and ending with the Dawes Severalty Act of 1887.

Sand Creek Massacre

On November 29, 1864, militia under John C. Chivington assaulted a Cheyenne village, resulting in the death of over one hundred women and children.

Little Bighorn, Battle of the

A battle in 1876 where combined forces of Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho defeated U.S. soldiers, known as 'Custer’s Last Stand'.

Peace Policy

President Ulysses Grant’s attempt in 1868 to end Plains Indians Wars via Christian missionaries, which ultimately failed.

Dawes Severalty Act (1887)

An act that broke up Indian reservations and distributed land to individual households.

Wounded Knee, Battle of (1890)

A confrontation between the U.S. Army and Dakota Sioux that resulted from tensions over the 'Ghost Dance' and the Dawes Act.

mining industry

Industry that boomed after gold and silver strikes in the west, essential for U.S. industrial growth.

100th meridian

A geographical line bisecting the U.S., traditionally marking the beginning of the 'West'.

borderlands

Regions where nations or societies meet, characterized by fluid social relations and hybrid cultures.

mechanization of agriculture

The development of engine-driven machines that increased land productivity in the 1870s and 1880s, leading to consolidation of farms.

Populists

The People’s party representing Westerners and Southerners favoring farmers over Eastern businessmen.

Homestead strike (1892)

An armed strike at a Carnegie steel plant that resulted in violence and highlighted labor unrest.

grandfather clause

Regulation exempting voters from certain requirements if their ancestors could vote in 1860, benefiting whites over blacks.

Pullman strike (1894)

A strike led by railroad workers against wage cuts, eventually suppressed by federal troops.

fourth party system

Period of national politics from 1896 to 1932 focused on industrial regulation and labor issues.

Gold Standard Act (1900)

An act that established gold as the basis for paper currency, ending the 'free-silver' campaign.