The Last West and the New South, 1865-1900

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts from the lecture notes on the history of the American West and the development of the New South during the late 19th century.

Frontier

A remote area at the edge of settled land, often associated with exploration and settlement.

Homestead Act

1862 law that offered 160 acres of public land free to any family that settled on it for five years.

Miner's Tax

A tax imposed on foreign-born miners, particularly targeting Chinese immigrants in California.

Chinese Exclusion Act

1882 law that prohibited further immigration to the U.S. by Chinese laborers.

Placer Mining

A method of mining for gold using simple tools like shovels and pans.

Boomtown

A town that rapidly grows in population and economic activity due to a sudden influx of settlers or miners.

Ghost Town

A deserted town that once had a lively population, often due to the depletion of natural resources.

Cattle Drive

The process of herding cattle from one location to another, often to market or for grazing.

Dawes Severalty Act

1887 law that aimed to assimilate American Indians by dividing tribal lands into individual plots.

Buffalo

A large mammal that was crucial to the livelihood of many Great Plains tribes, providing food, clothing, and shelter.

Reservation

Land assigned by the government to American Indians, often causing restriction of movement and traditional ways of life.

Frederick Jackson Turner

Historian known for the Frontier Thesis, proposing that the frontier shaped American character.

Jim Crow Laws

State laws enacted in the South that legalized racial segregation.

Ranching

The practice of raising livestock, especially cattle, on large tracts of land.

Agriculture

The science or practice of farming, including cultivation of soil for growing crops.

Industrialization

The transition from an agrarian economy to one based on industry and manufacturing.

Texas Longhorns

A breed of cattle known for their long horns, originating in Texas and associated with ranching.

Barbed Wire

A type of fencing that consists of sharp metal spikes, significant in ranching and farming.

Sharecropping

A system where farmers rent land and pay rent with a share of the crops produced.

Populism

A political movement representing the interests of ordinary people, often in opposition to the elite.

Homesteader

A person who acquires land by living on and farming it under the Homestead Act.

Sioux

A group of American Indian tribes known for their nomadic lifestyle and buffalo hunting on the Great Plains.

Carpetbagger

A term used to describe Northern individuals who moved to the South after the Civil War for personal gain.

Exodusters

African Americans who migrated from the South to Kansas in the late 19th century seeking land and opportunity.

Western Expansion

The movement of settlers into the American West during the 19th century.

Environmental Scars

Negative ecological impacts left behind by human activities such as mining and settlement.

Lynchings

Extrajudicial killings carried out by mobs, notably targeting African Americans in the South during the late 19th century.

American Indian Wars

Conflicts between U.S. forces and Native Americans as settlers encroached on their lands.

Frontier Thesis

Turner's theory that the American identity was shaped by the experience of the frontier.

Sodbuster

A farmer or rancher who works on the plains of the Great Plains, especially those breaking new land.

African American Migration

The movement of African Americans to urban areas and other states seeking better opportunities.

Economic Diversity

A varied economy that includes different sectors, such as agriculture, industry, and services.

Civil Rights Cases

Supreme Court rulings that curtailed civil rights protections established during Reconstruction.

Direct Election

Election in which voters directly cast ballots for their preferred candidates, rather than through representatives.

Graduated Income Tax

A tax structure in which the tax rate increases as the taxable amount increases.

Farmers' Alliances

Organizations of farmers that promoted political and economic reforms in the late 19th century.

Wounded Knee Massacre

An 1890 incident in which U.S. troops killed over 200 Sioux men, women, and children.

Dry Farming

A farming technique that conserves moisture in dryland farming areas.

Culturally Assimilate

The process of adopting the cultural traits of another group, often forced upon American Indians.

Bison

A large and powerful animal that roamed the Great Plains, crucial to the survival of many tribes.

Labor Movement

A collective effort by workers to improve conditions, wages, and rights through unions.

Cattle Kingdom

A term used for the era and region where cattle ranching thrived in the Great Plains.

New South

A term that describes the South's attempt to modernize its economy after the Civil War.

Textile Industry

An industry focused on the production of cloth and clothing.

Flood of Immigration

The influx of immigrants into the U.S. during the 19th century that significantly altered demographics.

Natural Resources

Materials such as land, water, and minerals that are used to produce other goods.

Indian Reorganization Act

1934 law that aimed to reverse assimilation and promote self-governance among tribes.

Labor Conditions

The environment, hours, and conditions under which people work, often harsh for factory workers.

Cultural Preservation

Efforts made to maintain the traditions and cultures of indigenous peoples amidst assimilation pressures.

Economic Struggles

Financial difficulties faced by farmers and laborers, particularly during economic downturns.

Urban Migration

The movement of people from rural areas to cities in search of better economic opportunities.

Transcontinental Railroad

A railroad that stretches across the continent, facilitating trade, migration, and settlement.