APUSH Chapter 26: The Great West

Questions and Answers

In the West, soldiers spread cholera, typhoid, and smallpox to the Indians. They also reduced the _________ population through hunting.

bison

In the 1860s, the government grouped the Plains Indians into smaller plots of land: mainly the '_ ___________' in Dakota Territory, and the Indian Territory in Oklahoma.

Great Sioux reservation

The treaties marked the beginning of the ____ _ in the West.

reservation system

What was the significance of the Battle of the Little Bighorn?

A rare Indian victory in the plains wars. Signup and view all the answers

The Nez Percé Indians were sent to a dusty reservation _________ in 1877.

Kansas Signup and view all the answers

What factors accelerated the 'taming' of Indians?

The railroad, white men's diseases, and alcohol. Signup and view all the answers

After the Civil War, over 15 million bison grazed the western plains. By 1885, fewer than _______ were left after the bison had been slaughtered.

1000 Signup and view all the answers

What was the focus of 'A Century of Dishonor' published by Helen Hunt Jackson?

It detailed the record of government ruthlessness in dealing with the Indians. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Dawes Severalty Act of 1887 aim to achieve?

It dissolved many tribes as legal entities and aimed to assimilate Indians with white settlers. Signup and view all the answers

In 1858, minerals including and ___ were discovered in the Rockies, prompting many to rush to the mountains.

gold; silver Signup and view all the answers

Women gained the right to vote in Wyoming (1869), Utah (1870), Colorado (1893), and Idaho (1896), long before the women of the ________.

East Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the Wyoming Stock-Growers' Association?

To make the cattle-raising business profitable. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Homestead Act of 1862 allow settlers to do?

Acquire up to 160 acres of land by living on it for 5 years and improving it. Signup and view all the answers

Much of the land given away by the Homestead Act had ________ soil and weather.

terrible; dry Signup and view all the answers

The speed of harvesting wheat dramatically increased in the 1870s by the invention of the and the _____.

twine binder; combine Signup and view all the answers

Farmers' livelihoods depended on the price of their single product, which was ___________________ and out of their control.

unpredictable Signup and view all the answers

What was the National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry?

An organization that helped improve the lives of isolated farmers. Signup and view all the answers

What challenges did the Farmers' Alliance face?

Limited power because it excluded blacks and landless tenant farmers. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Colored Farmers' National Alliance?

An organization formed to attract black farmers, about 250,000 belonged to it. Signup and view all the answers

What was the American Railway Union known for?

Starting the Pullman strike, composed mostly of railroad workers. Signup and view all the answers

The political era from 1896 to 1932 was called the '_ system.'

fourth party Signup and view all the answers

What did the Dingley Tariff Bill do?

It raised the tariff level. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Gold Standard Act of 1900?

An act allowing paper currency to be redeemed for gold. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Indigenous Peoples and Reservations

Soldiers introduced diseases like cholera, typhoid, and smallpox to Native Americans, severely reducing bison populations through hunting.
The government established the Great Sioux Reservation in Dakota Territory and Indian Territory in Oklahoma for Plains Indians.
Treaties signed at Fort Laramie (1851) and Fort Atkinson (1853) initiated the reservation system, aiming to contain and manage Native populations.

Major Events and Figures

The Battle of the Little Bighorn marked a notable victory for Native Americans during the Plains Wars.
The Nez Percé were forcibly relocated to a reservation in Kansas in 1877 after conflicts with settlers.
Helen Hunt Jackson published "A Century of Dishonor" (1881), highlighting government mistreatment of Native Americans and followed with "Ramona" (1884) to advocate for California Indians.

Assimilation and Land Policies

The Dawes Severalty Act of 1887 aimed to assimilate Native Americans by dissolving tribal lands, offering 160 acres to individual families, and promising citizenship for those who adopted farming practices.
The Homestead Act of 1862 facilitated land acquisition by settlers, allowing claims of up to 160 acres if improved over five years with a nominal fee, promoting westward migration.
The 100th Meridian, delineating the wet East from the dry West, is crucial for understanding settlement patterns.

Agricultural Challenges and Innovations

Dry farming, practiced during prolonged droughts, led to soil depletion; many homesteaders abandoned their claims due to poor land conditions.
The late 19th century saw a significant population increase in the West as people migrated from other regions seeking opportunities.
Innovative farming tools like the twine binder and combine revolutionized wheat harvesting in the 1870s.

Farmers increasingly relied on cash crops such as wheat or corn due to high prices, often facing financial instability during deflation, which led to foreclosures.
The National Grange, founded by Oliver H. Kelley in 1867, aimed to enhance the lives of farmers through cooperation and support.
Farmers' Alliance, formed in the late 1870s, tried to enhance market control but excluded black and landless farmers, while the Colored Farmers' National Alliance sought to represent African American farmers.

Labor Movements and Political Landscape

The American Railway Union, led by Eugene Debs, initiated the Pullman strike and represented railroad laborers.
The Fourth Party System (1896-1932) was characterized by lower voter turnout and shifting political issues towards industrial regulation and labor welfare.
The Dingley Tariff Bill (1897) replaced the Wilson-Gorman law, increasing tariffs, while the Gold Standard Act of 1900 allowed for currency redemption in gold, impacting economic stability.

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Description

Test your knowledge on APUSH Chapter 26, which covers the Great West and the Agricultural Revolution. This quiz includes key terms and events that shaped the lives of Plains Indians and the impact of U.S. policies in the region.