American History 1865-1900: The West and South

The period after the Civil War where rapid industrialization occurred in the Northeast and Midwest, while the South and West primarily supplied raw materials and consumed manufactured goods.

The concept that American society is constantly being reinvented by new opportunities and experiences, particularly from the frontier.

The vast expanse of land including the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, and Western Plateau, which was considered inhospitable before the 1860s.

The rapid transformation of the Great Plains from a bison-dominated landscape to a land of homesteads, ranches, and railroads.

The practice of driving cattle over long distances to markets, often from Texas to the North.

The pursuit of gold and silver, which began in California and spread across the West, leading to the settlement of many states.

A major event in 1859 that drew thousands of miners to the area, marking the beginning of Colorado's settlement.

The significant negative impact on Native American cultures and populations due to the westward expansion.

A process where miners dig deep into the earth using expensive technology to access valuable minerals, often replacing the simpler placer mining method.

A town that grew rapidly due to the discovery of gold or silver, often filled with saloons, dance halls, and vigilante justice.

A town that once thrived due to mining but became deserted after the resources were depleted.

A law passed in 1882 that banned further immigration of Chinese workers to the United States, based on race and nationality.

Vast grasslands that extended from Texas to Canada, which became a major focus of the cattle industry after the Civil War.

Cattle ranches often located along railroads, where cattle were gathered and shipped to markets.

A law passed in 1862 that offered 160 acres of public land to families who settled on it for five years, encouraging farming on the Great Plains.

The Great Plains faced harsh conditions like extreme weather, scarce water, and lack of trees leading to the development of unique farming techniques like dry farming and deep plowing. These challenges also led to the invention of barbed wire and windmills.

The Oklahoma Land Rush was one of the last major land rushes in the American West, where settlers raced to claim land in the newly opened Oklahoma Territory. This event symbolizes the closing of the Western frontier.

Frederick Jackson Turner's Frontier Thesis argued that the westward expansion had a profound impact on American culture, promoting individualism, democracy, and inventiveness. It also emphasized the frontier's role as a safety valve for social discontent.

The availability of free land in the West acted as a safety valve, allowing people to escape overcrowding and social unrest in the East, reducing pressure on social and economic systems.

The end of the Western frontier was a significant event marking the completion of westward expansion in the United States. This marked a shift in American history and had implications for the nation's future.

Before the arrival of settlers, the Great Plains were home to numerous Native American tribes and cultural groups, each with unique traditions, languages, and ways of life. Some groups were farmers, while others practiced nomadic hunting and gathering.

The Navajo and Apache, nomadic tribes of the Southwest, adapted to the diverse environment by farming, raising livestock, and creating crafts. This demonstrates the resourcefulness of Native Americans in utilizing their environment.

A movement that advocated for preserving wilderness areas from human development, led by figures like John Muir.

A movement that believed in using natural resources sustainably through scientific management, balancing economic growth with environmental protection.

A shift in the Southern economy in the late 19th century that aimed for industrialization and economic diversification, hoping to create a more self-sufficient South.

A key figure in the New South Movement, Henry Grady advocated for embracing laissez-faire capitalism and industrialization to spur economic growth in the South.

A prominent steel producer in the South, highlighting the industrial growth in the late 19th century.

A leading lumber center in the South, showcasing economic development in the late 19th century.

The capital of the nation's tobacco industry, demonstrating the rise of new industries in the South.

Despite industrialization, the South remained largely agricultural and poverty-stricken, highlighting the uneven development of the

Black newspapers played a significant role in campaigning against racial injustice, particularly lynching and Jim Crow laws, despite facing threats and resistance.

The International Migration Society, established in 1894, facilitated the northward migration of African Americans seeking better opportunities, with Kansas and Oklahoma being popular destinations.

Booker T. Washington, a prominent African American leader, advocated for economic self-reliance and racial harmony. He believed that African Americans should focus on improving their economic standing through hard work and earning respect through their contributions.

W.E.B. Du Bois, a prominent civil rights leader, disagreed with Washington's approach, advocating for immediate social and political equality for African Americans, rejecting the idea of accommodation and segregation.

By the late 1800s, farming in the United States became increasingly commercialized and specialized, with farmers focusing on producing single cash crops and relying on technology and larger farms.

Increased global agricultural production led to a decline in prices for crops like wheat and cotton, impacting American farmers financially.

The 100th meridian is a line of longitude that runs north-south through the center of the United States, marking the transition from the humid eastern states to the arid West.

The Great American Desert, a vast expanse of land east of the Rocky Mountains, was once thought to be uninhabitable due to its arid conditions, but now supports a diverse range of ecosystems.

Farmers faced rising costs for resources like machinery, transportation, and storage, while their income from crops declined, creating a financial hardship.

A vast expanse of grassland stretching from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains was historically home to indigenous tribes and played a crucial role in Western settlement and agriculture.

Tariffs designed to protect American industries were seen as unfair by farmers, as they had to pay higher prices for manufactured goods while their own crops faced competition from foreign markets.

The term "New South" describes a vision of a transformed South after the Civil War, emphasizing industrial development, economic diversification, and increased opportunities, although these changes were slow and incomplete.

A system of agriculture in which farmers rent land and share their harvest with the landowner, often leading to debt and poverty, sharecropping became prevalent in the South after the Civil War.

A system that allowed for the cultivation of crops in arid regions by conserving water and using drought-resistant plants, dry farming greatly expanded agriculture in the West.

Jim Crow Laws were state and local laws enacted in the South after Reconstruction, enforcing segregation and disenfranchisement of African Americans, creating a system of discrimination and oppression.