Unit 6.2 APUSH

What was a significant technological advancement in farming during the Westward Expansion?

Mechanization, including tools like the combine harvester and mechanical reaper.

What were the two significant effects of mechanization on farming?

1) Increased crop production; 2) The obsolescence of small farmers.

How much did the production of corn and wheat increase between 1870 and 1900?

It roughly doubled.

Why did small farmers struggle during the period of mechanization?

They couldn't compete with large industrial farmers who could afford new machines.

What economic pressure did small farmers face due to crop prices?

Prices of corn, wheat, and other crops steeply declined, making it hard for them to survive.

What role did industrial trusts play in the economy during this period?

They kept prices high on manufactured goods, which farmers relied on.

What issues did farmers face with railroads?

Railroad owners charged excessively high prices for shipping crops to market.

What was the National Grange Movement?

An organization formed in 1868 to unite farmers for socialization and education.

What were the Granger Laws?

Laws pushed by the National Grange Movement to regulate railroad rates and combat abusive corporate practices.

What was the significance of the Commerce Act of 1886?

It required railroad rates to be reasonable and established the Interstate Commerce Commission.

What facilitated westward migration in the late 19th century?

The expansion of railroads and government land grants.

What were the Pacific Railroad Acts?

Laws that granted land to railroad companies to build a transcontinental railroad.

When was the first transcontinental railroad completed?

In 1869 at Promontory Summit, Utah.

What did the Homestead Act of 1862 provide?

160 acres of free land to settlers who would farm it.

Why was 160 acres often insufficient for farmers in the Midwest?

It was not enough land to sustain a viable farming operation.

What event sparked a mass migration to the West in 1848?

The California Gold Rush.

What was discovered in the Pike's Peak region in 1869?

Gold, leading to an influx of over 100,000 people.

What were boomtowns?

Rapidly developed towns that sprang up due to sudden population increases from gold discoveries.

Name two boomtowns that developed in the Pike's Peak region.

Denver City and Boulder City.

What characteristic made boomtowns diverse?

They attracted people from various races and ethnicities seeking gold.