U.S. History 1 Honors - Native American Wars, The Homestead Act, Populism

What did the lure of silver and gold result in?

Thousands of people moving to the West as word spread that gold was discovered in Colorado in 1858.

Boomtowns

Small mining towns.

Massacre at Sand Creek

An event that occurred in which the U.S. Army Genral, S.R. Curtis ordered that the Cheyenne suffer and set a brigade to attack them. On November 29, 1864, soldiers were attacked and killed over 150 natives that included women and children. All of this happened because the federal government set aside land for the Native Americans, but many of them refused on the given land and preferred to hunt in settled territories.

Death on the Bozeman Trail

A piece of land that ran through Sioux hunting grounds. The Sioux chief, Red Cloud, appealed to the government to get that land back into Native American hands. The Treaty of Fort Laramie was signed as a result.

Crazy Horse

A Sioux warrior that ambushed and killed over 80 soldiers in an attack called the Fetterman Massacre.

Fetterman Massacre

An attack in which the Sioux warrior, Crazy Horse, ambushed and killed over 80 soldiers.

The Treaty of Fort Laramie

A treaty in which the Sioux agreed to live on a reservation along the Missouri River. However, one Sioux leader, Sitting Bull, did not sign.

Gold Rush of 1874

George Custer discovers gold in the Black Hills. This results in more violence.

Custer's Last Stand

On June 1876, Sioux and Cheyenne held a sun dance, in which Sitting Bull envisioned this great battle. In this battle, George Custer and his troops, the Seventh Cavalry approached the Little Bighorn River and encountered an attack. George Custer and every single one of his troops were killed within an hour.

What are the effects on the destruction of buffalo?

It was the hardest hit to Native American lifestyle. Tourists, fur traders, and hunters would shoot these animals for sport. In 1800, there were 65 million of these animals. But in 1870, there were approximately 1,000 buffalo left.

Assimilation

The process which Native Americans would give up their beliefs and way of life to become a part of white culture.

The Dawes Act of 1887

When Congress tried to "Americanize" Native Americans by breaking reservation land into 160 acre "plots" of land that was given to heads of households and 80 acres to each unmarried adult. The remainder of land would be sold to white settlers and the income would go to tools for Native Americans, but they never received it. ⅔ of all reservation land was now taken by whites.

The Ghost Dance

A ritual that was a growing popular trend that was practiced by the Sioux. Military officials feared that this was a threat and ordered the arrest of Sitting Bull. In a fight, Sitting Bull was shot and killed.

The Battle of Wounded Knee

On December 28, 1890, 350 starving and sick Sioux were escorted by the Seventh Cavalry, Custer's previously slaughtered unit, to Wounded Knee Creek. The next day, soldiers ordered the Sioux to give up their weapons. During this, a shot is fired, but nobody knows who shot first. The soldiers killed 300 Sioux, including women and children, and left their bodies to freeze in the cold. This officially ends the Native American Wars.

What ended the Native American Wars?

The Battle of Wounded Knee

Why has transition been rapid?

From 1620-1870, it took 250 years for Americans to cultivate 400 million acres of land. From 1870-1900, it took Americans 30 years to cultivate another 400 millions acres of land. This all happened because of the recent technology that was developed, especially railroads.

What deal was made between the federal government and railroad companies?

The federal government gave 170 million acres of land to railroad companies. This deal consisted that the companies get 10 square miles of land for each mile of track laid in a state and 20 square miles for a territory.

How did railroads open the west?

There were two companies that enabled this. The Union Pacific moved westward from Nebraska and the Central Pacific moved eastward from California to try and create the first transcontinental railroad.

How were the railroads built?

Mainly Civil War Veterans, African Americans, Irish and Chinese immigrants, and Mexican workers worked on them. The golden spike was where the two railroads meet and was struck in 1869 in Utah. Many of these immigrants worked and stayed in the United States. This is why around 70% of all citizens in Wisconsin and Minnesota were immigrants.

The Homestead Act

An act that offered settlers 160 acres of free land to the head of a household or intended citizen. Around 600,000 people took advantage of the opportunity.

Exodusters

African Americans who moved from the post-Reconstruction South to Kansas.

What did Cattlemen do to open range?

They fenced it in.

Why did western settlers/farmers face more challenges in the West?

The land was much drier than on the East, meaning some crops couldn't be grown in different environments. People were also very isolated. Homes/farms were miles apart from each other, making communication difficult.

Sooners

In 1889, a massive and rush occurred in Oklahoma. They were giving out 2 million acres of land. When the race for the land would take place, people that were called this would cheat and claim their land early.

What famous landmark did the federal government open in 1872?

Yellowstone National Park

Why did the government decide to take back land holdings from railroad companies?

For the use of parks.

Soddies

Homes made out of stacking sod or turf. People would use their wagons to build their walls and use dirt and mud to build the roofs.

What were some of the benefits of living in soddies?

It was warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

What were some of the disadvantages of living in soddies?

It would attract lots of bugs and snakes. It also leaked when it rained. There was not a lot of light, or fresh air, and the dirt made it hard for people who had breathing issues to breathe.

How were the roles of women in the west increased significantly?

They could often work in the fields with others by planting and tending to crops. They canned fruits and vegetables, and became skilled doctors, treating snake bites and other injuries.

What did John Deere invent in 1837?

The steel plow.

What did Cyrus Mccormick invent in 1847?

The mass reaping machine.

What was invented in 1874?

Barbed wire.

How did inventions help farming?

It made it much more efficient.

Bonanza Farms

Single crop farms that are often 10,000-15,000 acres large.

What would people do to try to pick up more land?

By taking out loans and then using the land they got to grow more crops to pay off the loans. It's similar to using a credit card to pay a credit card.

Why were farmers on smaller farms better off?

They could vary their crops from year to year.

What caused more issues for farmers?

There was a drought that occurred between 1885-1890. Large railroad costs for chipping is also something to consider.

Greenbacks

Paper money that could not be exchanged for gold or silver.

When greenbacks were discontinued after the Civil War, what happened to their value?

It increased.

How did the discontinuation of greenbacks affect farmers?

Farmers who took out loans on the old greenback cost now have to pay back on the new greenback cost.

What happened to the value of crops after the discontinuation of greenbacks?

It dropped.

Why was transportation on transcontinental railroads high?

There was no competition.

The Farmers' Alliance

A network of farmers that consisted of 4 million farmers. They were an organization that was mainly looking for reforms. They would spread news and educate farmers about not getting taken advantage of.

The Grange

A group that Oliver Hudson Kelley started. The group was formed to provide a social outlet and education center for isolated farm families. This gave rise to other organizations such as the Farmers' Alliance.

Populism

The movement of people, also known as the people's party. It was created to give a voice to the farmers of the country and get a vote in Washington D.C.

What did the Populist Party want?

To increase the money supply, which raises prices for goods and services, 8-hour workdays, graduated income tax, only one term for the President and Vice President, secret ballots for elections, and restrictions on immigration.

Flat Income Tax

A system of income tax where everyone is taxed at the same rate.

Graduated Income Tax

A system of income tax where everyone is taxed at how much they make. The more they make, the more they're taxed.

Panic of 1893

The Reading and Philadelphia Railroads went bankrupt due to overexpansion. The United States doesn't have as much gold as the people though, and gold supplies were thin. People start trading their paper money for gold, which makes the Stock Market crash, leaving over 15,000 businesses and 500 banks closed.

Bimetallism

The system of currency in which the government would give citizens either gold or silver in exchange for paper currency or checks.

The Gold Standard

The system of currency in which the government would give citizens only gold in exchange for paper currency of checks.

Gold Bugs

Bankers, businessmen, or any upper-class person who wanted the Gold Standard and less money in circulation. This would lower prices, increase the value of money, and fewer people would have money.

Silverites

Farmers and laborers who wanted Bimetallism and more money in circulation. This would cause inflation, higher prices, less valuable money, and more people would have money.

Democrats have sided with the Populists and nominated who for President?

William Jennings Bryan

Who did William Jennings Bryan lose to in the Election of 1896?

William McKinely

What legacies did populism leave behind?

The message that the downtrodden could organize and rise up, and that many of its ideas are used today.

How was the buffalo important to the Native Americans of the Midwest?

They would skin it for clothing, take its bones for tools, its meat for food, and often take their skulls for religious ceremonies.

George Custer

The Lieutenant-Colonel who in 1876, after several indecisive encounters, found the main encampment of Sioux and their Northern Cheyenne allies on the Little Bighorn River. Custer's detachment of 210 soldiers was surrounded by 2,500 warriors and annihilated. He was also the same man who caused the Gold Rush of 1874.

How much money did homesteaders pay for their land?

All they had to do was pay for a filing fee, which was around $18, and the land was theirs.

Sitting Bull

A Sioux leader who fought against white settlement in the West. They were the only ones that didn't sign the Treaty of Fort Laramie. Later, they were shot and killed by military officials during a dispute.

How was barbed wire used in the West?

To keep animals in enclosures.

What was William Jennings Bryan's famous speech called?

Cross of Gold

Who are the winners and losers if the value of money rises?

The winners are businessmen, bankers, and rich men. The losers are farmers and laborers.

Who are the winners and losers if the value of money decreases?

The winners are farmers and laborers. The losers are businessmen, bankers, and rich men.

Why are Americans expanding west now? What are the reasons for them moving out to the West.

The railroads built make it especially easy to move westward. The new opportunity of starting a new life is made easier too by the Homestead Act, allowing any average American to gain hundreds of acres of land.