Period 6 Vocab#4

Battle of Little Bighorn (1876)

A pivotal conflict between the U.S. Army and a coalition of Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne

warriors, led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. The Native Americans achieved a

stunning victory, annihilating General George Custer's 7th Cavalry. Known as "Custer's

Last Stand," the battle temporarily slowed U.S. expansion but intensified federal efforts

to subjugate Native Americans.

George Custer

A controversial U.S. Army officer and cavalry commander during the Indian Wars. Best

known for his role in the Battle of Little Bighorn, where he and his men were killed.

Custer’s defeat became symbolic of Native American resistance to westward

expansion, but his aggressive tactics also made him a polarizing figure.

Ghost Dance Movement

A spiritual and political movement among Native Americans in the late 19th century. It

aimed to restore indigenous lands and way of life through ceremonial dances. Seen as

a threat by U.S. authorities, the movement culminated in the tragic massacre at

Wounded Knee in 1890, marking the end of large-scale Native resistance.

Battle of Wounded Knee (1890)

A massacre of approximately 300 Lakota Sioux, including women and children, by U.S.

troops near Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. The event, triggered by tensions

surrounding the Ghost Dance Movement, marked the symbolic end of Native American

resistance to U.S. government policies.

Dawes Severalty Act (1887)

A federal law aimed at assimilating Native Americans by dividing tribal lands into

individual allotments. Those who accepted the allotments were granted U.S. citizenship.

The act undermined tribal sovereignty and led to the loss of millions of acres of Native

land, further marginalizing indigenous communities.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

A landmark Supreme Court case that upheld racial segregation under the "separate but

equal" doctrine. The decision legitimized Jim Crow laws and institutionalized racial

discrimination, shaping race relations in the United States for decades until overturned

by Brown v. Board of Education (1954).

Jim Crow Laws

A system of state and local laws enforcing racial segregation and disenfranchisement in

the South after Reconstruction. These laws marginalized African Americans politically,

economically, and socially, creating a rigid caste system that persisted until the Civil

Rights Movement.

Booker T. Washington

An influential African American educator, author, and leader during the late 19th and

early 20th centuries. Advocated for racial uplift through vocational education and

economic self-reliance. His Atlanta Compromise speech emphasized accommodation to

segregation, a stance criticized by leaders like W.E.B. Du Bois.

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

The first major federal law restricting immigration, it banned Chinese laborers from

entering the United States. Driven by nativist fears and economic competition, the act

reflected widespread anti-Asian sentiment and set a precedent for restrictive

immigration policies.

Nativists

Americans who opposed immigration, particularly from non-Anglo-Saxon countries,

during the 19th and early 20th centuries. They feared cultural change, job competition,

and political instability, leading to movements like the Know-Nothing Party and policies

such as the Chinese Exclusion Act.

Tammany Hall

A powerful Democratic political machine in New York City, known for its influence in

urban politics during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Tammany provided social

services to immigrants in exchange for political support but was notorious for corruption

under leaders like Boss Tweed.

Boss Tweed (William M. Tweed)

The leader of Tammany Hall in the mid-19th century, infamous for his corrupt practices

that embezzled millions from New York City through political patronage and inflated

contracts. Exposed by Thomas Nast’s cartoons, Tweed became a symbol of Gilded Age

corruption.

Political Machines

Organizations that controlled political power in cities during the late 19th century, often

through patronage, corruption, and voter manipulation. They provided essential services

to immigrants and the poor in exchange for votes, but their influence often hindered

democratic governance.

Thomas Nast

A prominent political cartoonist in the late 19th century, best known for exposing the

corruption of Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall. His work popularized the Republican

Party’s elephant symbol and helped shape public opinion on political and social issues,

including Reconstruction and immigration.