American West Expansion Overview

The movement of people westward in the United States, altering the environment and societies already there.

A law giving 160 acres of land to settlers who improved it.

The negative effects of westward expansion on Native American tribes, including displacement and loss of culture.

The railway connecting the East and West coasts, speeding up travel and trade.

The movement of cattle from Texas ranches to markets in the East.

People who herded and managed cattle during cattle drives.

The belief that the United States was destined to expand its territory.

The increase in the amount of goods and services being produced.

The Exodusters faced hardship during their migration due to limited resources, racial prejudice, and economic difficulties.

A late 19th-century political movement primarily led by farmers, advocating for policies to address their economic hardships and fight corporate greed.

Farmers faced challenges like falling crop prices, high interest rates, and unfair practices by railroads, leading to agrarian protests.

The Grange, or Patrons of Husbandry, united farmers to address economic issues like railroad rates and grain storage.

The Grange lobbied for laws to regulate railroads and grain storage, enabling farmers to effectively advocate for their interests.

The discovery of gold in the West led to massive migration, causing booms in towns and impacting the environment through resource extraction, mining, and land use changes.

The vast expanse of land in the West presented opportunities for farming, attracting settlers to cultivate crops, raise livestock, and establish agricultural communities.

Government-designated areas where Native American tribes were forced to live, often on land unsuitable for their traditional way of life, leading to hardship and cultural change.

A mass migration of African Americans from the South to the Great Plains, primarily Kansas, seeking better economic opportunities and escaping racial violence and discrimination.

The Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads built the transcontinental railroad, facing challenges like terrain, funding, and labor shortages, primarily employing Irish and Chinese immigrants.

A spiritual and cultural movement among Native American tribes in the late 19th century emphasizing unity, resistance to westward expansion, and spiritual connection to their traditions.

The transcontinental railroad revolutionized trade, transportation, and commerce across the US, boosting economic growth and integrating the nation's economy.

The Exodusters' migration was driven by a desire for better opportunities, freedom from racial oppression, and escaping the lingering effects of slavery and Jim Crow laws.

Populism was a political movement focused on the economic and political grievances of farmers, opposing big business and financial institutions.

The Grange, or Patrons of Husbandry, was originally formed to provide social and educational support for farmers, but evolved into a powerful political force.

The Grange advocated for regulations for railroads and other businesses that negatively affected farmers, laying the groundwork for future agrarian movements like populism.

Populists advocated for reforms like fairer railroad rates, tariff policies, and a different monetary policy, hoping to create a more equitable economic system.

A crucial player in westward expansion, connecting the East and West coasts, fueling economic growth, but also facing criticism for its business practices and political influence.

A Native American religious movement in the late 19th century, aiming to revive traditional ways of life and resist the encroachment of Western settlers.

The railroad's expansion was largely funded by government subsidies, which made it profitable but also controversial.

The movement was met with resistance from both religious figures and the federal government, leading to conflicts like the Wounded Knee Massacre.

The Populists advocated for government regulation of railroads and other large businesses, expansion of the electorate, and an increase in the money supply.

Their migration led to the development of African-American communities in the West, contributing to the diversity and cultural landscape of the region.