Westward Expansion and Populism Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key people, events, and political movements of 19th-century U.S. Westward Expansion and the rise of Populism.

Westward Expansion

A 19th-century movement of American settlers where the U.S. grew from coast to coast between 1803 and the 1890s.

Manifest Destiny

An idea that justified U.S. expansion, suggesting the nation was destined to be bigger than it was.

Louisiana Purchase

The 1803 acquisition of 828,000 miles of land from France by President T. Jefferson for 15 million dollars ($3$ cents an acre).

Lewis and Clark Expedition

An 1804-1806 expedition to explore new land, find new things, and locate a water route.

Indian Removal Act

Relocating Native Americans living east of the MS river, leading to the Trail of Tears.

Trail of Tears

The 'March of Nations' where many Native Americans died and lost their homeland during forced relocation.

Homestead Act of 1862

An act providing 160 Acres of land for free to anyone willing to live on and improve the land for 5 years.

Oregon Trail

A 2,170-mile route carrying roughly 400,000 emigrants to farmland in the Pacific Northwest.

Santa Fe Trail

A vital trade corridor linking Missouri to New Mexico for commerce with Mexico markets.

California Trail

A route that split from the Oregon Trail toward the goldfields, with traffic swelling after 1849.

Vaqueros

Mexican cowboys who defined the culture and techniques of American ranching.

Barbed wire

Patented in 1874, this invention helped lead to the end of the open range.

The big die-up

An 1887 environmental event that contributed to the end of the open range era.

Argonauts

The 300,000 people who arrived in California seeking fortune following the 1848 discovery of gold.

Comstock Lode

One of the richest silver deposits in Nevada, discovered in 1859.

Deep-Shaft Mining

New engineering techniques for mineral extraction that went far beyond simple gold panning.

Esther Morris

A notable figure associated with the territory suffrage law.

Narcissa Whitman

The first woman to cross the continent overland.

Frederick Jackson Turner

Author of the 1893 statement that 'The frontier is the line of most rapid and effective Americanization.'

Populism

A political philosophy championing ordinary farmers and workers against a privileged elite, bankers, and corporate monopolies.

Farmers Alliance

Organized in Texas in the 1870s, this group created cooperatives to buy supplies and sell crops collectively.

Omaha Platform

A list of key Populist demands including Free Silver, Graduated Income Tax, Government-owned Railroads, and Direct Election of Senators.

William Jennings Bryan

The 1896 'Cross of Gold' speaker who fronted a fusion campaign endorsed by Populists and Democrats.

16th Amendment (1913)

A lasting legacy of the Populist party that established the federal income tax.

17th Amendment (1913)

A Populist reform that became law, establishing the direct election of Senators.