Unit 2. Westward Expansion

American Frontier

An imaginary line that separated the “unsettled lands“ in the west, and the settled land by the white Americans

Great Plains

Rolling fields, grasslands

• Little rain

• Little trees

• Tough, dry soil

Battle of Wounded Knee

U.S. Government sent troops to kill 300 Sioux

Treaty of Lamarie

The U.S. government’s appeal for the Sioux to live on Reservations

• Sioux Cheif (Sitting Bull) did not sign it

Two Companies who built the Transcontinental Railroad

Union Pacific Railroad (Started in Omaha)
Central Pacific Railroad (started in California)

Gold Standard vs Bimetallism

Belief that only gold should be used to back up the paper money system vs Belief that both silver and gold should be used

1896 Presidential Election Candidates

William Jennings Bryan (Populist Party & Democrats)
William McKinley (Republicans)

Push Factors

Factors that gave people a reason to move out of an area

• Religious Oppression

• Civil War

• Drought

• Poverty

“Indian Wars”

Conflicts between federal troops and Native Americans that occurred when the U.S. wanted to relocate them

Buffalo Soldiers

African Americans who worked to protect the settlers from Native Americans

Exodusters

African Americans who moved from the South to the West to farm for the first time

Homestead Act of 1862

The U.S. government gave out 160 acres of free land to anyone who would move out west and farm

• 400,000 people Accepted

• 10% farmed: the rest were miners and cattlemen

Cattle Kingdom

Cattlemen who herded the cattle on the “open range“ to the railroads until it was a “closed range”

People who moved West during the Homestead Act for Free Land

Homesteaders

Pull Factors

Factors that make people want to go to a certain area

• Religious Freedom

• New way of life

• Opportunities

• Gold Rush

• Cheap/Free Land

• Completion of Transcontinental Railroad

• Relocation of Native Americans

• Mining

Populist Party’s Proposals

• Secret Ballots

• Direct election of Senators

• Laws limiting Immigration

• Progressive Income Tax

• 8 hour Work Days

• Referendum Procedures

Farmers Problems

• Manufactured Goods Prices

• Middlemen

• Overcharging by railroad and grain companies

• indebtness

• Value of Money rose too high

• rural isolation

• Shipping costs

Transcontinental Railroad

A railroad that connected California to Omaha and turned a 6 month travel into a 1 week travel

Union Pacific Railroad

Started in Omaha

• Irish immigrants

• Had conflicts with Native Americans

Central Pacific Railroad

Started in California

• Chinese immigrants, African Americans, and veterans

• Had to mine through mountains

• Was faster in building

Dawes Act

An act to “Americanize” the Native Americans by:

• Moving them to reservations

• Having them apply to get private land

• Forcing them to give up their values

• Participate in the economy by farming

Buffalo hunters killed 3 million buffalo to force Native Americans to participate in this act

Sand Creeke Massacre

The killing of over 200 Cheyenne warriors, women, and children by the U.S. government

Way of Life for Native Americans

Lived on the land, following the buffalo

Lived in tribes (small groups of extended family)

Men hunted, women cooked and skinned the Buffalo

How the Buffalo was Used by the Native Americans

They used it for clothes, food, shelter, and tools

Sherman Silver Purchase Act

Required the government from 1890-1893 to purchase silver

California Gold Rush of 1849

Settler found an abundance of gold, silver, and other metals in California, North Dakota, Nevada, and Arizona. They rushed to areas to mine and clashed with Native Americans.

First Candidate of the Populist Party

James Wawer

Advantages of the Transcontinental Railroad

• Allowed farmers to ship out products from the rest

• Made settlers be able to get materials easier

• An incentive for people to move West

• Sold land grants to settlers

Disadvantages of Transcontinental Railroad

• Gave railroad companies a monopoly over transportation

• Native Americans were relocated for the construction

Grange

A group formed by Oliver Hudson Kelly to discuss social issues involving farmers

Farmer’s Cooperatives

Businesses formed and sponsored by farmers to be able to sell and buy in bulk

Farmer Alliances

Organizations made by farmers that urged the government to help farmers and regulate railroad companies

Munn vs. Illinois

A ruling by the Supreme Court that states could regulate railroad companies and rates

Wabash vs. Illinois

Overruled Munn vs. Illinois and stated only Congress could regulate interstate commerce

Interstate Commerce Act

The first federal law that could regulate business practies

• Railroad companies cannot charge MORE for the shorter distances compared to long ones

• Railroad companies cannot charge you different rates for the same freight and distance

• Set up the Interstate Commerce Commission to enforce act

Granger Laws

Laws supported by grangers and farmers after Illinois passed a law enforcing passenger rates and preventing discrimination by railroad companies

Morill Act

Act that established Agricultural Colleges that developed new ways to farm and crops

Trail of Tears

U.S. Government forced Native Americans west of the Mississippi River in the Southern States

• 25% of Cherokee

• Many died

• Lasted many months