Unit 5 Study Guide

Coach Bailey's History Class

What was the main reason the cattle industry boomed in the late 1800s?

Expansion of the railroad

Which group of people primarily lived on the Great Plains before settlers arrived?

Native Americans

What animal was central to the lives of the Plains Indians?

Buffalo

Which of the following was a significant cultural practice among Plains warriors?

Counting coup

What was one of the main causes of conflict between Native Americans and white settlers?

Ownership of land

What led to the creation of reservations for Native Americans?

Treaty of Fort Laramie

What was the purpose of the Dawes Act of 1887?

To assimilate Native Americans into white culture

The discovery of what resource led to a rush of settlers in Colorado in 1858?

Gold

What role did railroads play in the development of the West?

Transported settlers and goods westward

What event marked the end of the Indian Wars?

Massacre at Wounded Knee

What was the name given to African Americans who migrated from the South to Kansas in the late 1800s?

Exodusters

The Homestead Act of 1862 offered how many acres of free land to settlers?

160 acres

What was the primary cause of the decline of the open range cattle industry?

Barbed wire fencing

What did the Morrill Act of 1862 do to support farmers?

Created agricultural colleges

What was a "soddy" during the settlement of the Great Plains?

A house made of sod

The invention of barbed wire primarily affected which group of people?

Cowboys

Which technological advancement greatly increased the productivity of farmers on the Great Plains?

The steel plow

What is the significance of the Battle of the Little Bighorn?

It marked a major Native American victory

What was the goal of the Farmers' Alliances?

To improve the economic conditions for farmers

Who gave the famous "Cross of Gold" speech that supported bimetallism?

William Jennings Bryan

Which of the following was NOT a demand of the Populist Party?

Establishment of a national banking system

How did the Grange aim to improve conditions for farmers?

By negotiating with railroad companies

The Panic of 1893 led to the collapse of which major U.S. industry?

Railroads

Why did many farmers support the idea of bimetallism?

It would increase the money supply and raise prices

The Populist Party largely represented which group of people?

Farmers and laborers

Which event caused the largest migration of people to the West in search of wealth?

The Gold Rush

Who were the main opponents to the Populist Party's demand for bimetallism?

Bankers and businessmen

What was the goal of the Pacific Railway Acts of 1862 and 1864?

To encourage the construction of a transcontinental railroad

What was the purpose of the "long drive" in the cattle industry?

To transport cattle to railroad shipping centers

What event led to the U.S. Army's attack on the Sioux at Wounded Knee?

The Ghost Dance movement

How did Bonanza farms differ from traditional family farms?

They were large, single-crop farms often owned by companies

What was one of the key challenges faced by settlers on the Great Plains?

Harsh winters and droughts

What did the term "manifest destiny" refer to?

The belief that the United States should control the entire North American continent

Who was Sitting Bull?

A leader of the Sioux tribe

What was a primary goal of the Populist Party's platform?

Increasing the political power of farmers and laborers

Which invention allowed farmers to cultivate more land more efficiently during the late 1800s?

The mechanical reaper

What factor contributed to the end of the cattle frontier?

Overgrazing and drought

What led to the rise of boomtowns in the West?

The discovery of gold and silver

What was the main purpose of the National Grange?

To advocate for farmers' economic interests

Which event was known as the last armed conflict between Native Americans and the U.S. Army?

The Massacre at Wounded Knee

The government's passage of the Interstate Commerce Act aimed to:

Regulate railroad rates and practices

Which of the following was a method used by settlers to adapt to the harsh conditions of the Great Plains?

Dry farming techniques

What was the outcome of the 1896 presidential election, which focused on the issue of bimetallism?

William McKinley won, supporting the gold standard

What was the primary purpose of the Ghost Dance performed by Native Americans?

To restore Native American lands and way of life

What led to the sharp decline of the buffalo population in the late 1800s?

Hunting by settlers and the U.S. Army

What was the main reason for the collapse of the Populist Party?

Their inability to attract urban voters

Which of the following is true about the Chisholm Trail?

It was a key route for moving cattle from Texas to railroads in Kansas

What impact did the Homestead Act have on the settlement of the West?

It encouraged settlement by offering free land to settlers

What was one reason for the increased conflict between settlers and Native Americans in the West?

Settlers' desire for land for mining and farming

Which of the following was a result of the Oklahoma Land Rush?

The rapid settlement of former Native American lands by white settlers

Describe the significance of the buffalo to the Plains Indians.

The buffalo was a central part of Plains Indian life, providing food, clothing, shelter, and tools. It was vital for their survival and cultural practices.

What were the main goals of the Dawes Act, and how did it affect Native Americans?

The Dawes Act aimed to assimilate Native Americans into American society by dividing tribal lands into individual plots. It led to the loss of Native American communal lands and culture.

Explain the reasons why settlers were drawn to the West during the 1800s.

Settlers were drawn to the West by the promise of free land through the Homestead Act, the discovery of gold and silver, and the expansion of the railroad, which made travel easier.

What role did railroads play in the expansion and development of the West?

Railroads facilitated the movement of goods and people, linking the eastern and western U.S., making westward expansion more accessible, and encouraging economic development.

How did the discovery of gold and silver impact the settlement of the West?

The discovery of gold and silver led to rapid migration, the establishment of boomtowns, and increased conflicts with Native Americans as settlers encroached on their lands.

What were the challenges that settlers faced when moving to the Great Plains?

Settlers faced harsh weather, droughts, poor soil, isolation, and conflicts with Native Americans. They also struggled with the lack of trees for building materials.

How did the U.S. government encourage westward expansion during the late 1800s?

The government passed the Homestead Act, provided land grants to railroads, and offered incentives for settlers to move west.

What was the significance of the Populist movement in American politics?

The Populist movement represented the interests of farmers and laborers, advocating for economic reforms such as bimetallism, government regulation of railroads, and a graduated income tax.

How did the Homestead Act of 1862 promote the settlement of the Great Plains?

The Homestead Act offered 160 acres of free land to settlers willing to live on and cultivate the land for five years, encouraging thousands to move west and settle the Great Plains.

What led to the decline of the open-range cattle industry?

The decline of the open-range cattle industry was caused by factors such as overgrazing, the introduction of barbed wire fences which enclosed land, harsh winters, and the expansion of railroads which reduced the need for cattle drives.