Review Sheet - Westward Expansion

Westward Expansion Terms

  • Transcontinental Railroad: A continuous railroad line that connected the eastern United States to the western territories.

  • Central Pacific: One of the two companies responsible for building the western portion of the Transcontinental Railroad.

  • Union Pacific: The company responsible for building the eastern portion of the Transcontinental Railroad.

  • Golden Spike: The final spike driven to complete the Transcontinental Railroad, symbolizing the joining of the two lines at Promontory Point, Utah.

  • Comstock Lode: A major silver ore discovery in Nevada which significantly influenced westward migration and mining.

  • The Homestead Act: A law that provided 160 acres of public land to settlers for a small fee, encouraging westward migration.

  • Exodusters: African Americans who migrated from the South to Kansas in the late 19th century seeking land and better opportunities.

  • Boomtown: A town that experiences sudden growth in population and economic activity, often due to mining or resource discovery.

  • Ghost Town: An abandoned town, often a former boomtown that declined in population after the resource was exhausted.

  • The Cattle Kingdom: A historic region in the Great Plains where cattle ranching became a major economic activity, especially during the late 19th century.

  • Reservations: Designated areas of land where Native Americans were forced to live, often leading to a loss of their traditional lands.

  • The Indian Wars: A series of conflicts between Native American tribes and the United States government throughout the late 19th century.

  • Treaty of Fort Laramie: An agreement intended to establish peace between the U.S. government and various Native American tribes but was largely ignored by the U.S.

  • The Chivington Massacre: A violent confrontation in 1864 where U.S. troops killed a large number of Cheyenne and Arapaho, despite being promised protection.

  • The Trail of Tears: The forced relocation of Native Americans, particularly the Cherokee, resulting in the deaths of thousands.

  • Battle of Little Bighorn: A significant 1876 battle where Native American forces, led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, defeated General Custer's troops.

  • The Apache Wars: Conflicts between Apache tribes and the U.S. government, one notable leader being Geronimo.

  • Massacre at Wounded Knee: The 1890 incident where U.S. troops killed over 300 Sioux, marking a tragic conclusion to the Indian Wars.

  • Ghost Dance: A religious movement among Native Americans promoting a return to traditional ways and the disappearance of white settlers.

  • The Dawes Act: A U.S. law aimed at assimilating Native Americans into American society by allotting them individual plots of land.

  • Crazy Horse: A Lakota war leader who played a crucial role in defeating U.S. forces at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

  • Sitting Bull: A Lakota leader and shaman who became a symbol of Native American resistance against U.S. government policies.

  • National Grange: An organization created to advocate for farmers' rights and to promote agricultural education and cooperation.

  • Populist Party: A political party formed in the 1890s that sought to represent the interests of farmers and working-class citizens.

  • William Jennings Bryan: A prominent politician and advocate for agrarian interests, known for his 'Cross of Gold' speech advocating for bimetallism.

Reasons for Westward Migration

  1. Promise of New Land:

    • The Homestead Act attracted settlers by offering free or inexpensive land.

  2. Discovery of Gold/Silver:

    • The mining industry boomed, creating jobs and drawing many prospectors to areas like the Comstock Lode.

  3. Building the Transcontinental Railroad:

    • Provided job opportunities and made travel and transport across the country more accessible.

Effects of the Transcontinental Railroad

  1. Economic Growth:

    • Boosted trade and transportation, facilitating the movement of goods and people to the West.

  2. Mass Migration:

    • The Railroad led to significant movement of settlers toward the West.

  3. Union Pacific vs. Central Pacific:

    • Competing companies that faced challenges in building the railroad line, including labor issues and geographical obstacles.

  4. Promontory Point Significance:

    • The location where the two railroad lines met, marking a monumental achievement in American infrastructure.

Positive and Negative Results of the Railroad

  1. Impact on Native Americans:

    • Displacement and destruction of buffalo herds due to railroads led to a decline in Native American ways of life.

  2. Impact on Miners/RR Workers:

    • Provided jobs, but working conditions were often poor and dangerous.

  3. Impact on Farmers:

    • The railroad provided access to markets but also brought competition and challenges such as increased costs.

  4. Overall National Effects:

    • The railroad facilitated national growth but also exacerbated tensions and conflicts, especially with Native Americans.

Government Response to Native American Issues

  1. Failure of Treaties:

    • The government made several treaties to promote peace but frequently violated them leading to distrust.

  2. Broken Promises:

    • Many treaties seen as a means to control land rather than genuine efforts for peaceful coexistence.

  3. Indian Massacres:

    • A series of violent confrontations led to significant loss of life and further hostility between tribes and settlers.

  4. Reservations:

    • Indians opposed reservations as it symbolized loss of their homelands and traditional lifestyles.

Plains Indians Conflicts

  1. Reasons for Fighting:

    • Broken treaties often led to violent clashes as settlers encroached on Native lands, especially in defense of mining activities and railroad expansion.

  2. Key Conflicts:

    • Battle of Little Bighorn: A rare Indian victory that ultimately led to increased U.S. military pressure.

    • Massacre at Wounded Knee: The tragic end of armed conflicts, where fear of the Ghost Dance resulted in a violent response.

  3. Apache Wars:

    • Geronimo's resistance was one of the last notable efforts against U.S. military expansion, culminating in his surrender in 1886.

Changes Following Indian Wars

  1. Life on Reservations:

    • Resulted in significant changes to Native American cultures and traditional lifestyles.

  2. Modernization of the West:

    • The railroad brought modernization that undermined traditional practices and ways of life.

  3. The Dawes Act (1887):

    • An attempt to assimilate Native Americans into American culture by allotting land to individuals, promoting agriculture and reducing communal land holdings.