Chapter 17: Conquering the West

bison - big cow like animals that were a supply of food, clothing, and tools to native americans. prized game for whites and population dropped from 10million to a few hundred.

Mormons - Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-day Saints. Pratice polygamy, beleived in God’s further revelations in America, and led by Brigham Young to settle in Utah.

polygamy - multiple wives

Brigham Young - led mormons to settle in utah after hatred from americans.

Homestead Act (1862) - encouraged people to buy cheap land as long a they improved the land.

Sioux - prominent american indian tribe who fought against custer and his army at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

A Century of Dishonor - Written by Helen Hunt Jackson, led to awareness of the government’s treatment of Indians and sympathy for their plight.

cultural assimilation - to blend the native american culture into american culture. started by mandatorily sending native american children to boarding schools, where they would learn white men’s culture, skills, accept Christianity, and learn the “correct” roles of women.

Sitting Bull - political and spiritual leader of the sioux, had a prophetic dream.

George Armstrong Custer - led an army against the natives at battle of little bighorn, lost and died

Little Bighorn - river in montana where a battle happened and the natives win

Crazy Horse – led around 3,000 warriors in annihilating Custer and his 268 men at battle of little bighorn

transcontinental railroad - railroads that cross a country, such as when the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railways met in Utah in 1869

Chisholm Trail - trail used to drive cattle north, originated south of San Antonio, Texas, ran north across Oklahoma, and ended at Abilene, Kansas

cowboy - “vaqueros”, black and mexican cattle herder helpers

Dawes Act (1887) - broke up indians and practiced that kept them from being “civilized”, divided tribes into family land plots, surplus land sold to whites.

Ghost Dance - wovoka had a vision and encouraged indians to dance so that the bison would come back and the whites would leave.

Wounded Knee -  creek in south dakota where white men tried to round up indians, led to a skirmish killing 150-300 natives and 25 whites.

Buffalo Bill Cody - man who produced wild west shows

Annie Oakley - female sharpshooting sensation