The Conquest of the Far West

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on the Conquest of the Far West, focusing on Native American societies, immigration, economic changes, cultural aspects, and significant events and figures.

Plains Indians

Native American tribes living in the Great Plains, known for buffalo hunting.

Buffalo

A vital resource for Plains Indians, providing food, clothing, and shelter.

Taos Puebloans Rebellion

An uprising in New Mexico against colonial rule by Hispanic settlers.

Chinatowns

Urban areas with significant Chinese populations, often forming cultural enclaves.

Chinese Exclusion Act

An 1882 law that significantly restricted Chinese immigration to the United States.

Homestead Act

A law passed in 1862 encouraging Western migration by providing settlers land.

Rocky Mountain school

A group of artists focused on depicting the Western landscape.

The Turner thesis

A historical argument that the American frontier shaped the nation's character.

Comstock Lode

A major silver ore discovery in Nevada that sparked a mining boom.

Gender disparity in mining

The significant difference in the roles and numbers of men and women in mining industries.

Range wars

Conflicts over land and resource usage among cattle ranchers, farmers, and settlers.

Indian hunting

The practice of hunting Native Americans, often leading to violence and massacres.

Wounded Knee Massacre

A 1890 incident where U.S. troops killed hundreds of Lakota Sioux.

Ghost Dance

A Native American spiritual movement aiming for a return to traditional ways.

Dawes Act

An 1887 law promoting assimilation of Native Americans into American society.

Reverse migration

The trend of people moving back from urban to rural areas.

Agrarian malaise

A sense of discontent among farmers due to economic hardships.

Isolation

The state of being separated from others, often leading to discontent among farmers.

Railroad workers

Laborers who built and maintained railroads, playing a crucial role in Westward expansion.

Cattle Kingdom

An era characterized by cattle ranching and drives in the American West.

Chinese families

Communities in America comprising Chinese immigrants and their descendants.

American Progress (1872)

A painting symbolizing expansion and the idea of manifest destiny.

The Changing Western Economy

The economic transformations that occurred in the West during the 19th century.

Plight of the Californios

The struggles faced by Spanish-speaking inhabitants of California during American expansion.

Anti-Chinese sentiments

Prejudice and discrimination against Chinese immigrants during the late 19th century.

Buffalo Hide Mania

The period of intense slaughter of buffalo for hides, leading to near extinction.

Commercial agriculture

Large-scale farming aimed at producing crops for sale rather than for subsistence.

Open range

Unenclosed land where cattle could graze freely before the establishment of farms.

Mining booms

Periods of rapid mining activity, often leading to population increases in mining towns.

Sand Creek massacre

A violent attack on a village of Cheyenne and Arapaho by Colorado U.S. Volunteer Cavalry in 1864.

George A. Custer

A U.S. Army officer known for his actions in the Indian Wars, particularly the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Geronimo

A prominent leader of the Apache who resisted U.S. efforts to confine his people to reservations.

Frederic Remington

An artist known for his depictions of the American West and cowboy culture.

Labor in the West

Employment trends and issues faced by a diverse workforce in the Western states.

Multiracial working class

A workforce composed of individuals from various racial and ethnic backgrounds.