The Effects on Westwar expansion

PUSH — Westward Expansion, Native Americans, and Women’s Suffrage (Study Notes)

I. U.S. Policy Toward American Indians

A. Indian Removal & Relocation

  • Government policies forced tribes to give up land.

  • President Andrew Jackson supported removal policies.

  • About 100,000 Native Americans forced onto reservations.

Indian Removal Act (1830)

  • Allowed government to remove Native Americans from their land.

  • Led to forced relocation.

Cherokee Resistance

  • 1827 — Cherokee created own constitution → declared sovereignty.

  • Worcester v. Georgia (1832):

    • Supreme Court: Cherokee were independent.

    • Georgia had no right to remove them.

  • Jackson ignored ruling → showed weak enforcement of Supreme Court.

Trail of Tears

  • Forced Cherokee relocation.

  • Massive death and suffering.

APUSH Theme: federal power vs Native rights; consequences of westward expansion.

B. Assimilation Policies

Boarding Schools

  • Goal: “Americanize” Native children.

  • Children:

    • separated from families

    • forced to speak English

    • banned from cultural traditions

    • given English names

    • converted to Christianity

  • Schools created cheap labor force.

  • Cultural destruction and psychological harm.

Example: Carlisle Indian School.

Key idea: destroy tribal identity → forced assimilation.

C. Dawes Severalty Act (1887)

Purpose:

  • Break up tribal power.

  • Promote individual land ownership.

Effects:

  • Tribal land divided among families.

  • Citizenship after 25 years.

  • Best land taken by:

    • railroad companies

    • speculators

    • white settlers

  • Native Americans lost 50% of land (1790–1900).

  • Destroyed tribal culture.

APUSH concept: assimilation + economic exploitation.

D. Frontier Thesis (Frederick Jackson Turner, 1893)

  • Frontier shaped American identity.

  • Created individualism and restlessness.

  • Declared frontier “closed.”

Historical criticism: ignores Native American suffering.

II. Women in the West & Women’s Suffrage

A. Role of Women in Westward Expansion

  • Fewer women → greater independence.

  • Worked same jobs as men:

    • farming

    • livestock care

    • home building

  • More equality than East.

B. Women’s Suffrage Movement

  • Began strongly in the West.

  • “Girl homesteaders” pushed for voting rights.

Key Dates:

  • 1869 — Wyoming: first full voting rights.

  • 1870 — Utah: voting rights (later removed 1887).

  • 1893 — Colorado: first state via referendum.

  • 1911 — California: suffrage.

  • 1920 — 19th Amendment: national voting rights.

Limitations:

  • Native American women excluded until 1924.

  • Racial discrimination persisted.

APUSH theme: reform movements and expanding democracy.

III. Cultural Diversity & Immigration in the West

A. Cowboy Culture

  • Influenced by:

    • Mexican vaqueros

    • Argentine gauchos

  • Cowboys included:

    • African Americans

    • Mexican Americans

    • white Americans

  • Shared cultural exchange.

B. Immigration & Diversity

Groups contributing to the West:

  • Chinese → railroads

  • Irish → railroads

  • Mexicans → cattle work

  • Germans & Scandinavians → farming

  • African Americans → communities in Kansas

West became culturally diverse.

IV. Cultural Suppression & Racism

  • Efforts to eliminate Native traditions.

  • Boarding schools forced cultural loss.

  • Western entertainment (Wild West Shows) created stereotypes.

APUSH Big Themes to Remember

  • Manifest Destiny consequences.

  • Federal authority vs minority rights.

  • Assimilation vs cultural preservation.

  • Expansion of democracy (women’s suffrage).

  • Cultural diversity and conflict.

  • Economic motives behind policy.