APUSH Chapter 17

Manifest Destiny

The belief that the US was destined to expand to the Pacific and beyond, driven by motives like acquiring land, preventing British control in North America, establishing trade routes, spreading democracy, expanding power, and accessing new markets.

Federal Government Assistance

Despite laissez-faire principles, the federal government supported economic growth through subsidies to railroads, protective tariffs, the Homestead Act, the Hatch Act, and the National Banking Act.

Homestead Act (1862)

Granted 160 acres of land to settlers who met residency and cultivation requirements, leading to 600,000 claims and 80 million acres transferred to individuals by 1900.

Pacific Railway Acts (1862, 1864)

Authorized land grants for the Union Pacific to build a transcontinental railroad, later expanded by the second act, culminating in the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869.

Railroad Construction Post-Civil War

Northern rail route to the Pacific facilitated by Union Pacific and Central Pacific, connecting the West Coast to the Union, boosting trade, and aiding western settlement.

Exodusters

African Americans migrating to Kansas in 1879, seeking a better life post-Civil War.

Buffalo Soldiers

African American soldiers who fought in various conflicts and contributed to national parks, symbolizing the struggle for equality.

Newlands Reclamation Land (1902)

Government-funded irrigation projects in the West to promote development, funded by fees from farmers benefiting from the projects.

John Deere’s Steel Plow (1837)

Efficient plow aiding in the transformation of the Great Plains into farmland.

Bonanza farms

Large Midwest farms hiring labor to grow crops, particularly wheat, profitable until land exhaustion issues arose.

California and the 49ers

Gold rush in California in 1848, leading to a rush of gold seekers and statehood application.

Comstock Lode

Massive silver deposit in Nevada in 1859, contributing to the establishment of Nevada as a state and the desire for silver-backed currency.

The Long Drive (Cattle trails)

Cattle drives to railroad terminals for slaughterhouses, diminishing with the introduction of barbed wire fencing.

Cultural Diversity in the Saddle

Inclusion of vaqueros and black cowboys in the cowboy culture, enriching ranching vocabulary and history.

Joseph Glidden’s Barbed Wire (1874)

Superior barbed wire invention aiding in fencing and ending cattle drives.

The Winter of 1886-1887

Harsh winter conditions contributing to the decline of the classic cowboy era in the West.

Significance of Prostitution

Role of prostitution in providing income and opportunities for women in the West, including business ventures and education.

Comstock Law (1873)

Federal law banning obscene materials, reflecting societal tensions over morality and modernity.

First Treaty of Fort Laramie (1851)

Reserved land for Plains Indian tribes, setting territorial boundaries.

The Dakota War

Conflict arising from treaty violations and white encroachment, leading to mass executions and treaty disputes.

Sand Creek Massacre (1864)

Tragic event where Colorado militia attacked Cheyenne at Sand Creek Reserve, resulting in hundreds of deaths.

Second Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868)

Established the Great Sioux Reservation, impacting federal negotiations and encroachment on Native American land.

Treaty of Medicine Lodge Creek

Three treaties signed in 1867 with Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, Southern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes, moving them to Indian Territory and providing government assistance.

Black Hills, South Dakota

Colonel Custer's 1874 expedition discovered gold, leading to white miners violating treaties.

Battle of the Little Big Horn (1876)

Custer's defeat by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse marked the last Native American victory in the Plains.

Helen Hunt Jackson, A Century of Dishonor (1881)

Documented mistreatment of Native Americans by the US government.

Sitting Bull and Buffalo Bill

Sitting Bull captured in 1881, toured with Buffalo Bill, and was later killed during an arrest attempt.

Chief Joseph and the Nez Percé

Chief Joseph led a 1700-mile dash for Canada to escape reservation confinement but was defeated.

Indian Complaint to the Sioux Commission (1889)

Described broken promises and forced relocations of Native Americans.

The Ghost Dance and Wounded Knee, South Dakota (1890)

Wovoka's movement led to the Wounded Knee massacre, ending major Indian wars.

Factors Leading to the Conquest of the Plains Indians

Railroads, diseases, and buffalo destruction contributed to the defeat of Plains Indians.

Americanization (American Branded Assimilation)

Efforts to assimilate Native Americans into American society post-Indian Wars.

Carlisle Indian Schools

Boarding schools aimed at assimilating Native American children into white society.

The Dawes Severalty Act (1887)

Abolished Indian tribes, allotted land to families, and aimed at assimilation but led to land loss.

Chinese Immigrants in the West

Chinese immigrants came to the US seeking fortunes during the California Gold Rush.

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

Restricted Chinese immigration due to job competition and discrimination.

Las Gorras Blancos

Mexican American group in New Mexico defending the poor against white squatters, inspired by KKK motives.

Seward’s Folly

Secretary of State Seward bought Alaska from Russia for a bargain price. Seward was mocked for buying a frozen wasteland. But expansionists were cheered by the purchase, and the land eventually turned out to be rich in gas and oil.

Oklahoma Land Rush

Oklahoma, at one point set aside as Indian Territory, was opened for white settlement in April of 1889. Many whites tried to sneak in and stake land claims early; they were therefore called sooners.