Western Expansion and Key Figures

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to Western expansion and important figures in the era.

Exodusters

African Americans who moved west after the Civil War to escape racism and find land.

Soddy

A house made of grass and dirt blocks, used on treeless Great Plains.

Dugouts

Houses dug into hills or the ground when wood was unavailable.

John Deere

The inventor of the Steel Plow that made farming on the prairie land easier.

Cyrus McCormick

Inventor of the mechanical reaper, which helped harvest crops faster.

Cowboys

Cattle workers who drove herds and are often glamorized in stories.

Vaqueros

Cowboys who influenced the American cowboy culture, originating from Mexican traditions.

Cowboy Drive

Long trips taken to move cattle to railroad towns for sale.