APUSH Unit 6 p1& p2

Homestead Act (1862)

Granted 160 acres of public land to settlers who farmed it for five years, encouraging westward migration and settlement.

Transcontinental Railroad impact on American migration (1869)

Connected the East and West, speeding up migration, enabling trade, and displacing Native Americans from their lands.

Battle of Wounded Knee (1890)

U.S. troops killed over 200 Lakota at Wounded Knee, ending Native armed resistance and worsening federal-Native relations.

The Turner Thesis (1893)

Frederick Jackson Turner's idea that the American frontier shaped democracy and culture, emphasizing westward expansion's importance.

McCormick's Mechanical Reaper (1880s manufacturing change)

Improved farming efficiency; assembly line production reduced costs, making it widely accessible to farmers.

Knights of Labor (founded 1869)

A labor union that sought to unite all workers, advocating for better wages, hours, and working conditions, but declined after the Haymarket Riot.

The Haymarket Riot (1886)

A Chicago labor protest turned violent when a bomb exploded, leading to anti-labor sentiment and weakening the labor movement.

Board of Indian Commissioners (1869)

Oversaw Native policies to assimilate tribes, often forcing cultural and lifestyle changes, including reservations and boarding schools.

California Gold Rush (1848-1855)

Triggered mass migration to California, spurring economic growth and statehood but displacing Native Americans.

Cattle Drives (1860s-1880s)

Cowboys herded cattle from Texas to railheads in Kansas for transport to markets, fueling the beef industry.

Colorado Gold Rush (1858-1861)

Drew settlers to Colorado, increasing conflict with Native tribes over land and resources.

Cowboys (Vaqueros) (1860s-1880s)

Skilled horsemen and cattle herders, influenced by Mexican vaqueros, crucial to Western ranching culture.

Crazy Horse (1840-1877)

Lakota leader who resisted U.S. expansion and helped defeat Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Dawes General Allotment Act (1887)

Divided tribal land into individual plots to assimilate Native Americans, reducing Native land holdings.

George Custer (1839-1876)

U.S. Army officer defeated at the Battle of Little Bighorn, symbolizing tensions with Native tribes.

Indian Reservation (1850s-1880s)

Designated lands where Native Americans were forced to live, often with poor conditions and limited autonomy.

Native American Boarding Schools (1870s-1920s)

Schools aimed to assimilate Native children by erasing their culture and teaching English and U.S. customs.

Sitting Bull (1831-1890)

Lakota leader who resisted U.S. policies, played a key role in Little Bighorn, and was killed during a Ghost Dance crackdown.

The Comanche (18th-19th century)

A powerful Plains tribe that resisted U.S. expansion but was eventually confined to reservations.

The Ghost Dance (1889-1890)

A spiritual movement promising Native restoration; feared by U.S. authorities, leading to the Wounded Knee massacre.

The Sioux (19th century)

A coalition of Native tribes that resisted U.S. expansion but suffered greatly after events like Wounded Knee.

Wild West Shows (1880s-early 1900s)

Entertainment spectacles romanticizing the West, featuring cowboys, Native Americans, and famous figures like Buffalo Bill.

Homestead Strike (1892)

A violent labor dispute at Carnegie Steel; weakened unions and highlighted industrial workers' struggles.

Laissez-Faire Economics (late 19th century)

A policy of minimal government interference in business, promoting rapid industrial growth but leading to inequalities.

Labor Union (19th century)

Organizations of workers advocating for better wages, hours, and working conditions, pivotal in industrial America.

Child Labor (19th century)

Widespread use of children in factories and mines, sparking reform movements for labor laws.

Trusts (Business) (late 19th century)

Large business combinations controlling industries, reducing competition and creating monopolies.

Monopoly (Business) (late 19th century)

When one company dominates an industry, often exploiting workers and consumers.

Vertical Integration (Carnegie Steel) (late 19th century)

Control of all production steps in an industry to reduce costs and maximize profits.

Horizontal Integration (Standard Oil) (late 19th century)

Buying out competitors to dominate an industry, used by Rockefeller to control oil.

Robber Baron (late 19th century)

Term for wealthy industrialists who exploited workers and resources to amass wealth.

Captain of Industry (late 19th century)

Industrialists praised for innovation, creating jobs, and advancing the economy.

Social Darwinism (late 19th century)

Applied "survival of the fittest" to justify wealth inequality and oppose social reform.

Government Subsidy (railroads) (1860s)

Federal land and funds given to railroads to promote construction and economic growth.

Thomas Edison (1847-1931)

Inventor of the light bulb and phonograph; symbolized industrial innovation.

Menlo Park (1876)

Edison's research lab where groundbreaking inventions like the light bulb were developed.

Labor Strikes (late 19th century)

Worker protests for better wages and conditions, often met with violence and suppression.