WIIU (Westernization, Immigration, Industrialization, and Urbanization) Study Guide

Westernization

• Sand Creek Massacre: A brutal attack in 1864 where Colorado militia killed over 150 Native Americans, mostly women and children, from the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes.

• Sod Homes on the Homestead (Stim): Homesteaders built homes from sod due to the lack of trees on the plains. These houses were cheap but challenging to maintain, especially in harsh weather.

• Homestead Farmers (Stim): Farmers took advantage of the Homestead Act of 1862, which provided land to settlers who cultivated it. They faced difficult conditions such as droughts and soil exhaustion.

• White Attitudes Towards Expansion (Stim): Many white Americans believed in Manifest Destiny, viewing westward expansion as a right and duty to spread civilization and Christianity.

• Life on the Plains (Stim): Life was harsh with extreme weather, isolation, and conflicts with Native Americans. Settlers often had to adapt to survive.

• Native American View Towards Expansion (Stim): Native Americans saw expansion as an encroachment on their lands and way of life, leading to resistance and eventual displacement.

• William Jennings Bryan's "Cross of Gold" Speech (Stim): Delivered in 1896, this speech criticized the gold standard, advocating for bimetallism to help struggling farmers and workers.

• Impact of Reservation Policies: These policies confined Native Americans to specific areas, restricting their traditional ways of life and leading to economic and cultural erosion.

• Effect of the Indian Wars (Stim): Devastated Native populations, resulting in loss of land, culture, and sovereignty. Wars like the Battle of Little Bighorn and Wounded Knee symbolized their resistance and ultimate defeat.

• Assimilation Policies (Stim): Policies like the Dawes Act forced Native Americans to adopt European-American culture and farming, eroding their cultural identity.

• Native American Resistance to Expansion (Stim): Resistance included battles (e.g., Little Bighorn) and leaders like Sitting Bull and Geronimo, who fought to protect their lands and cultures.

• Role of Farmers in the US Economy (Stim): Farmers provided essential agricultural products, supporting the growing population and urban markets despite facing financial struggles due to low crop prices and debt.

Immigration

• Chinese Exclusion Act (2 MC): Passed in 1882, it banned Chinese laborers from immigrating to the U.S., reflecting growing anti-immigrant sentiment and racism.

• Angel Island/Ellis Island: Angel Island in California processed mainly Asian immigrants under stricter scrutiny, while Ellis Island in New York welcomed European immigrants.

• Immigration Waves Post-1860 (Stim): Large numbers of immigrants, particularly from Southern and Eastern Europe, arrived seeking jobs and freedom, often settling in urban areas.

Industrialization

• Impact of Big Business on Farmers (Stim): Monopolies and railroad companies exploited farmers with high shipping rates and unfair pricing, fueling movements like Populism.

• Sherman Anti-Trust Act (Stim): Enacted in 1890 to curb monopolies and promote fair competition, though initially it was weakly enforced.

• Child Labor (Stim): Common in factories and mines, with children working long hours in dangerous conditions for low wages.

• Bessemer Process: Revolutionized steel production, making it cheaper and stronger, fueling industrial growth and urbanization.

• Andrew Carnegie and Philanthropy (Stim): Carnegie built a steel empire and later gave away much of his wealth to libraries, education, and the arts, embodying the "Gospel of Wealth."

• Interstate Commerce Act (Stim): Passed in 1887 to regulate railroad practices and ensure fair rates, targeting monopolistic practices.

• John D. Rockefeller and Monopolies (Stim): Founded Standard Oil, creating a monopoly through aggressive business tactics and vertical integration.

• Haymarket Riot: A labor protest in Chicago in 1886 turned violent after a bomb exploded, leading to anti-union sentiment.

• Technological Advances Brought by Industry (Stim): Innovations like the telephone, light bulb, and mechanized farming equipment transformed daily life and production.

• Collective Bargaining and the Rise of Unions: Workers organized to negotiate better wages and conditions, leading to unions like the AFL (American Federation of Labor).

Urbanization

• Rise of Political Machines (Stim): Organizations like Tammany Hall in New York City gained power by offering services to immigrants in exchange for votes, often leading to corruption.

• Rise of Crime in the Cities: Overcrowding and poverty in urban areas led to higher crime rates, prompting the creation of police forces and reform efforts.

• Living Conditions of the Working Class (Stim): Many lived in tenements, facing overcrowding, poor sanitation, and disease outbreaks.

• Working-Class Families in the Cities: Families often had to have all members, including children, work to survive, leading to limited education and poor living standards.