The American West: Key Themes and Historical Figures

These flashcards cover vocabulary and key concepts related to the American West, its cultural and historical significance, and key figures involved in this pivotal period.

Buffalo Bill

A showman who popularized the American West through his Wild West shows featuring cowboy and Native American performances.

Plains Indians

A diverse group of tribes, including the Lakota and Cheyenne, primarily inhabiting the Great Plains and known for their nomadic lifestyle centered around buffalo hunting.

Pueblo Indians

Native Americans in the Southwest, recognized for their agriculture, adobe homes, and trade, notably corn cultivation.

Chinese Exclusion Act

A U.S. law enacted in 1882 that prohibited Chinese labor immigration for ten years, later extended, reflecting racial and cultural tensions.

Dawes Act

An 1887 law aimed at assimilating Native Americans by allocating individual plots of land and promoting farming, ultimately leading to significant land loss for tribes.

Wounded Knee Massacre

An 1890 confrontation between U.S. troops and Lakota Indians that resulted in the deaths of over 300 unarmed Native Americans, representing the tragic culmination of U.S. military action against Native peoples.

Ghost Dance

A religious movement among Native Americans that sought to restore pre-colonial life and resulted in the Wounded Knee Massacre.

Sitting Bull

A Hunkpapa Lakota leader who played a vital role in resisting U.S. government encroachments on Native American land and culture.

Geronimo

An Apache leader who led resistance against U.S. and Mexican military campaigns in the late 19th century.

Cattle drives

The movement of large herds of cattle from grazing areas to railroad terminals for transportation, key to the cowboy economy.

Homestead Act

A law passed in 1862 that provided settlers with 160 acres of land for a small fee, promoting westward expansion.

Transcontinental Railroad

Completed in 1869, it connected the East and West coasts of the U.S., accelerating immigration and the economy in the West.

Assimilation

The process by which Native Americans were integrated into American society through policies that sought to eliminate indigenous cultures.

Frontier Thesis

Historian Frederick Jackson Turner's argument that the American character was shaped by the challenges of the frontier.

Buffalo Soldiers

African American soldiers who served in the U.S. Army during the Indian Wars, playing a crucial role in the expansion of the American West.

Range Wars

Conflicts between cattlemen and farmers over land use in the late 19th century, often exacerbated by economic and environmental challenges.

Boomtowns

Towns that developed rapidly around mineral discoveries or major railroads, often characterized by excitement and lawlessness.