IB History Chapter 26

BUFFALO

The buffalo were a highly significant animal group throughout the 17th and 18th centuries in the United States, specifically in the west. The buffalo were the staff life for native americans for they provided them with food, clothing, lariats and harnesses. Following the civil war their population decreased significantly as railroad construction was overtaking the West and white settlers were hunting them for food and as a way to diminish native american resistance as they were coming into their lands. By 1865 the buffalo population had gone down to fewer than 1000 from the initial 15 million. This negatively impacted the native americans for they were essential to their life. Significantly this facilitated their displacement as well as the as they had lost their main source of food, along with the hides which helped keep them warm in the winter. It also helped to speed up the construction of western railways as railway workers would frequently eat buffalo as their main food source.

CARLISLE INDIAN SCHOOL

Founded in 1879 in Pennsylvania., the carlisle indian school was an institution that was meant to educate native american children on english culture and language by separating them from their families and stripping them of their individual indigenous culture. The school's motto was “Kill the Indian and save the man”, significantly illustrating how institutions such as this focused on fully taking away indigenous culture because they believed in white supremacy. A belief that will be an ongoing issue through American History. Critically accelerating the extinguishment of native american life and culture as the new native generations will not be able to carry on their traditions and customs.  

COMSTOCK LODE 

One of the largest mining districts which was plentiful with gold and silver. During the late 1800s 340$ million dollars were mined from this mine alone. This inspired the “forty-niners” to pour into the area in hopes of finding riches. This large influx of settlers in the region accelerated American expansion west, pushing out the Natives from the area and symbolizing the prevalence of the American dream, showing the opportunity to go to untouched land and become rich. This accelerated growth also caused Nevada, where the lode was located, to be added as a state for the 1864 election.

BOOM AND BUST

The boom and bust was an economic cycle that developed with industrialization in the West of the United States. When gold/silver deposits were found, there would be a wide influx of settlers, and a period of rapid growth in the region. This caused the boom, which resulted in swiftly constructed towns with no formal governments. Due to these loosely structured towns, when the gold and silver ran out there was nothing to gain from staying, causing a bust as people rapidly left the towns in search of wealth elsewhere. This phenomenon caused the rapid expansion of the US west, as settlers who left the towns kept moving further west. It also showed the American dream, where settlers of all classes partook in these booms and busts, all having the chance to make it big. 

LONG DRIVE

he Long Drive started as a result of the construction of the transcontinental railways. Following their construction, people began to see profit in the cattle industry. By driving the cattle from Texas up to the northern railways, the meat could be shipped Eastwards, causing the long drive. Overall, a total of around 4 million steers were transported through this system. Cowboy culture became prevalent due to the diverse groups of cowboys consisting of blacks, hispanics, and whites. This industry caused the development of cities like Chicago and Kansas

City into meat packing cities. It would later be put out of business due to the same reason it started, as homesteaders and sheepherders barbed fences became too widespread for cowboys to cut; however, its influence on the development of cities is undeniable.

Homestead Act 

The homestead act was passed in 1862, and allowed settlers to acquire as

much as 160 acres of land after living on it for 5 years, improving it, and paying a fee of $30.

This act was passed to facilitate westward expansion, offering an incentive for people to move

over westwards and make their own farms. Though half a million families took advantage of this,

around 5 times as many bought their land from railroad companies and states instead. This was

because the 160 acres promised was not enough for the harsh conditions of the west, and

around 2 out of every 3 homesteaders failed to live the 5 years. Despite this, this act played a

key role in facilitating westward expansion. It was because of this, however, that cowboys would

die out as the permanent settlements from homesteaders could not be crossed.

Sodbusters 

Sodbusters were farmers who moved west during the time of westward expansion

looking for a chance at new opportunities and a new life. They arrived en masse onto the great

plains from railroads after the plain sod was broken by large iron plows, revealing fertile soil

underneath. These farmers made houses out of sod and burned corn cob for warmth as there

were no trees or lumber. These farmers were one of the biggest drivers of westward expansion,

taking thousands of acres of land and establishing large farms. They also exemplified the

American dream, showing how regular people could pack up and move out west to establish

their own farms and settlements.

Dry Farming

Following the wheat shortages around the world, in the 1870s farmers rashly set

out westward to establish their own farms in what they thought was a better climate. John

Wesley Powell, an explorer, warned against this as the climate was extremely different, with not

nearly enough rain to support the crops. Despite this farmers continued to move west, and

eventually needed to develop the technique of “dry farming”. The plants would be shallowly

cultivated in order to get the most water. This resulted in the farmers of the time surviving, and

continuing the westward expansion. Despite this, later on a dust bowl would be formed as the

surface soil was completely dried up.

Fading Frontier 

The fading frontier was the idea that the rapid westward expansion was ending the era of the frontier. In 1890, it was announced that the frontier line was no longer discernible. This marked the beginning of the end for the frontier, which deeply unsettled the people of the US. Previously, they’d been able to escape to the frontier and start lives completely new; however, with the frontier rapidly fading, this would soon cease to be a possibility. This phenomenon inspired one of the most influential essays about American history by JacksonTurner, which looked at the frontier’s effect on America through the years. It also marked the end of the “safety valve” as the frontier was called, opening America up to much higher levels of social unrest.

Nez Perce

The Nez Perce were a tribe of plains natives, who lived in an area encompassing

parts of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. They were known for their Apaloopsa, a hardy horse

breed that was capable of traversing difficult terrain over long distances. In 1877, a band of Nez

Perce led by chief Joseph began to fight against the Americans, resisting attempts to put them

on a reservation. Chief Joseph and around 700 tribe members travelled thousands of miles for 3

months, before finally surrendering to American forces just a few miles from the Canadian

border. Rather than being sent back to Idaho, they were taken to a Kansas reservation, where

40% died of disease. This marked the end of the Nez Perce tribe , and the beginning of the end

for other similar native tribes.

Buffalo Soldiers

Buffalo soldiers were African American soldiers serving on the frontier. The

natives called them buffalo soldiers due to their hair resembling a bison's furry coat. They

accounted for approximately ⅕ of the soldiers of the frontier, and fought with the natives for over

a decade after the civil war. Being such a large part of the frontier force, they were pivotal in

wiping the natives from the land. Along with this, their large presence in the army showed a shift

from the pre-civil war era, where now there was a significant African American presence in the

military.

Chief Joseph

Chief Joseph led the Nez Perce tribe in their battle against the Americans. After

the attempt to herd them onto a reservation in 1877, Chief Joseph began to fight back with

around 200 warriors. He fled with them thousands of miles for over 3 months on his run to

Canada, before surrendering to the Americans just a few miles away from the border. In his

journey, he won a few battles against the Americans, and was one of the biggest forces of

native resistance in history. His surrender marked the end of the Nez Perce tribe as they were

herded onto reservations and died of disease.

Fetterman Massacre

Fetterman’s massacre was a native massacre of Captain Fetterman and

his command over 81 soldiers. This was carried out following the Sandcreek massacre, where

American soldiers murdered over 400 natives, and was an attempt to stop a trail from being built

into the Montana gold mines. This massacre led to a cycle of violence between the Americans

and natives as the Americans viewed the natives as savages. It also led to one of few native victories against the Americans at the battle of Little Bighorn, which caused the government to abandon the trail completely.

Battle of Wounded Knee

The Battle of Wounded Knee was an attempt from the Americans to

force their culture and Christianity on the natives. Following a call to outlaw the native “Sun

Dance”, the dance was passed down to the Dakota Sioux tribe. The army brutally stamped it out

at the Battle of Wounded Knee, where over 200 natives died. This battle was part of a vicious

attempt to completely stamp out native culture, which would only further tensions with them. It

also showed a darker side of the American dream, where their attempts to “share their culture

and power” to benefit the world resulted in violence and the destruction of other cultures and

lifestyles.

Geronimo 

Geronimo was the leader of the Apache tribes in New Mexico and Arizona. These

fierce tribes were the hardest to subdue, and hated the presence of the whites. Geronimo led

them in a flee into Mexico to escape the white invaders; however, they were pursued by federal

troops until they scattered and were forced to surrender after the Apache women were exiled to

Florida. In the end, they became successful Oklahoma farmers in Oklahoma. This marked the

end of large-scale native resistance as the final large tribes were forced to surrender. It also

marked the end of most native cultures as natives were forced onto reservations where they

had to Americanize to survive.

Dawes Act 

The Dawes Act was passed as an attempt to “civilize” the natives, after calls from

reformers who believed they were helping them. This act stripped tribes of their legal standing,

and removed all tribal holdings, instead giving 160 acres of land to each family head. If the

natives were peaceful and acted as white settlers, they’d get a full title to their land and

citizenship in 25 years. Reservation land not given to the natives under this act would be sold to

the railroads and white settlers. This act showed an attempt to remove one of the most vital

parts of native culture, that being communal ownership and shared land. It also became the

government policy on natives for almost half a century, as they tried to forcefully assimilate the

natives.

Sand Creek Massacre

The Sand Creek Massacre took place in Colorado, 1864, as Colonel

Chivington’s militia brutally murdered over 400 natives. These natives believed they had been

promised immunity as they complied with the white’s requests. Despite this, they were murdered

in cold blood to ensure they wouldn’t cause trouble later on. This massacre depicted the

brutality of the American expansion Westwards, which resulted in a series of violence and the

destruction of cultures. It led to further native retaliation with Fetterman’s massacre, which

caused a vicious cycle of violence between American and native forces.