American History: Settlements and Legislation

Frontier

• Refers to areas settled by farmers who were transported west by the Transcontinental Railroad from the eastern United States.

Dawes Act

• Aimed to divide Native American reservations into individual plots to encourage farming.
• Each family was allotted 160 acres to promote landownership and assimilation into American culture.

Klondike Gold Rush

• Occurred in 1896 when the discovery of gold lured a significant influx of miners to the Klondike region in Canada.

American Indian Citizens Act

• Legislation passed to grant United States citizenship to all Native Americans.

Tenements

• Small, often overcrowded apartments typically lacking adequate heating, lighting, or sewage systems, prevalent in urban areas.

Immigration

• Defined as the act of moving from one’s homeland to live in a different place, often for better opportunities.

Cattle Drive

• A practice where cowboys herded cattle to rail stations in the north to facilitate transportation to eastern markets.

Ghettos

• Urban areas predominantly inhabited by individuals of similar nationality, language, or cultural background.

Chinese Exclusion Act

• The first federal legislation to impose restrictions on Asian immigration to the United States.

Indian Wars

• Notable conflicts like the Battle of Little Bighorn, arising from tensions between settlers/soldiers and Native Americans over land and cultural differences.

Great Plains

• A region significantly impacted by the Dawes Act, as it saw the division of Native American lands into individual farming plots.

Urbanization

• The increasing movement of people from rural areas to urban centers, leading to densely populated cities.

Homestead Act

• Enacted in 1862, this law granted 160 acres of public land to citizens who met specific criteria and paid a nominal fee.

Boss Tweed

• Leader of Tammany Hall and a notorious political figure in New York City, known for corrupt practices to maintain Democratic control.

Assimilation

• The process whereby minority groups adopt the culture and norms of a dominant society.

Nativism

• A political policy prioritizing the interests and rights of the native population, often at the expense of immigrants.

Corruption

• Involves dishonest conduct by those in power, typically characterized by bribery and unethical practices.

Industrialization

• Refers to the transition toward new manufacturing processes, characterized by the establishment of factories and mass production.

Robber Baron

• A term used to describe wealthy industrialists in the late nineteenth century who exploited natural resources and labor for profit.

Labor Union

• Organizations formed by workers to advocate for improved working conditions, fair wages, and benefits.

Monopoly

• A market situation where one seller dominates and controls the entire supply of a product or service despite many buyers.

Philanthropy

• The desire to promote the welfare of others, often manifesting as charity and efforts to support social causes.

Segregation

• The enforced separation of individuals based on racial, ethnic, or other distinguishing characteristics, prevalent in many societies.

Settlement

• A small community established by immigrants or settlers in a new region, often reflecting their cultural origins.

Civil Service

• A hiring and promotion system aimed at maintaining a nonpartisan government, based on merit rather than political affiliation.