The Great West Populism Vocab

Refers to the expansive region of the western United States during the late 19th century, characterized by significant economic development, agricultural expansion, and the settlement of diverse populations.

The Great West

A Lakota leader and warrior known for his role in the resistance against U.S. military expansion and for his participation in the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Crazy Horse

A Hunkpapa Lakota leader and prominent figure in the resistance against U.S. government policies, he played a key role in the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Sitting Bull

A prominent leader of the Apache who resisted U.S. government policies and fought against encroachment on his people's land.

Geronimo

A book written by Helen Hunt Jackson in 1881 that exposed the injustices faced by Native Americans in the United States, advocating for their rights and better treatment.

A Century of Dishonor

Legislation passed in 1887 aimed at assimilating Native Americans by allotting them individual plots of land and granting U.S. citizenship.

Dawes Act 

A Native American boarding school established in 1879 in Pennsylvania, aimed at assimilating Indigenous children into Euro-American culture through education and vocational training.

Carlisle School

A policy that designated specific areas of land for Native American tribes, often leading to loss of ancestral lands and forced relocation.

Reservation System

The process of herding cattle over long distances to reach market or railheads, particularly popular in the late 19th century.

long drive

A law enacted in 1862 that provided land grants to settlers, allowing them to claim up to 160 acres of public land for a small fee, provided they improve the land by building a dwelling and cultivating crops.

Homestead Act

A train route that connected the eastern United States to the western territories, completed in 1869, facilitating transportation and trade.

Transcontinental Railroad

A federal law passed in 1882 that prohibited the immigration of Chinese laborers to the United States, reflecting the nativist sentiments of the time.

Chinese Exclusion Act

State laws aimed at regulating railroad rates and grain elevator charges in the late 19th century to protect farmers' interests.

Granger Laws

A federal law enacted in 1887 that aimed to regulate railroad shipping rates and ensure fair practices in interstate trade.

Interstate Commerce Act

A federal law passed in 1890 designed to combat monopolies and promote competition by prohibiting anti-competitive business practices.

Sherman Anti-Trust Act

An economic philosophy advocating minimal government intervention in the economy, promoting free-market principles.

laissez-faire economics

A political movement in the late 19th century that sought to represent the interests of farmers and laborers, advocating for reforms such as the regulation of railroads, direct election of senators, and monetary policy changes.

Populist Movement

A famous speech by William Jennings Bryan in 1896 that argued for the free coinage of silver, emphasizing its importance to farmers and the working class.

“Cross of Gold Speech”