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Questions and Answers
Which of the following was NOT a major factor in the displacement of Native Americans during westward expansion?
Which of the following was NOT a major factor in the displacement of Native Americans during westward expansion?
How did the concept of "terra nullius" contribute to the westward expansion?
How did the concept of "terra nullius" contribute to the westward expansion?
What role did the federal government play in the assimilation of Native American populations?
What role did the federal government play in the assimilation of Native American populations?
Which of the following best describes the impact of the destruction of the buffalo herds on Native American tribes?
Which of the following best describes the impact of the destruction of the buffalo herds on Native American tribes?
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How did the Indian Removal Act of 1830 contribute to westward expansion?
How did the Indian Removal Act of 1830 contribute to westward expansion?
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What was a primary goal of the federal government's policies toward Native Americans during the period of westward expansion?
What was a primary goal of the federal government's policies toward Native Americans during the period of westward expansion?
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Which of the following was a consequence of the displacement and dispossession of Native Americans during westward expansion?
Which of the following was a consequence of the displacement and dispossession of Native Americans during westward expansion?
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What does "Manifest Destiny" refer to in the context of westward expansion?
What does "Manifest Destiny" refer to in the context of westward expansion?
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How did the westward expansion negatively impact Native Americans?
How did the westward expansion negatively impact Native Americans?
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What was one major economic driver of westward expansion?
What was one major economic driver of westward expansion?
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Which of the following best describes the relationship between the East and West during the westward expansion?
Which of the following best describes the relationship between the East and West during the westward expansion?
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How did the construction of railroads impact westward expansion?
How did the construction of railroads impact westward expansion?
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What was a major environmental consequence of westward expansion?
What was a major environmental consequence of westward expansion?
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Study Notes
Gilded Age Economics
- The Gilded Age (roughly 1870-1900) experienced significant US industrial growth, marked by rapid technological advancements and the rise of large corporations.
- Railroad expansion and associated infrastructure were key drivers of this growth.
- Industrial titans like Andrew Carnegie (steel) and John D. Rockefeller (oil) emerged, employing aggressive business practices like vertical and horizontal integration to amass substantial wealth.
- Economic inequality was extreme, with the wealth of a few contrasting with widespread poverty among industrial workers.
- Harsh labor conditions – long hours, low wages, and hazardous work environments – were common.
- A national market facilitated the exchange of goods and services across vast distances.
- Agricultural innovations, like mechanized farming, increased efficiency and production, although this displaced rural workers, leading to poverty and urban migration.
- Inventions like the telephone and light bulb boosted economic growth.
- "Laissez-faire" capitalism, emphasizing minimal government intervention, dominated economic thought.
Native Americans and Westward Expansion
- Westward expansion severely impacted Native American populations.
- Displacement and dispossession of Indigenous peoples were central to westward expansion, often fueled by Manifest Destiny.
- Native American land was acquired via treaties, often through forced removals and broken promises.
- Federal policies aimed to assimilate Native Americans, using boarding schools and suppressing cultural practices.
- The Indian Removal Act of 1830 exemplified government policies to displace Native peoples.
- Conflicts between settlers and Native American tribes arose due to competition for land and resources.
- The concept of "terra nullius" (land belonging to no one) justified dispossession.
- The destruction of buffalo herds affected the livelihoods and spiritual traditions of Plains tribes.
- Reservations, often lacking resources, were isolated and unsustainable.
Westward Expansion: Economic Impacts
- Westward expansion significantly impacted the economy, fostering new markets, resources, and infrastructure.
- Demand for western resources (timber, minerals, farmland) fueled Eastern economic growth.
- Transcontinental railroads connected the East and West, boosting economic activity across both regions.
- Western mining booms attracted prospectors and settlers, driving economic activity but leading to environmental harm.
- New agricultural lands supported population growth and boosted output.
- Western raw materials and agricultural products were crucial to Eastern industry, creating opportunities and exploitation.
- Western farms and ranches demanded manufactured goods, stimulating Eastern industry.
- Competition over land and resources created tensions between settlers, Native Americans, and other economic interests.
- Western economic development had both positive and negative environmental consequences, leading to land, water, and ecosystem degradation.
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Description
Explore the economic landscape of the Gilded Age from 1870 to 1900. This quiz covers major industrial growth, advancements in technology, and the rise of corporations like those led by Carnegie and Rockefeller. Understand the contrasts of wealth and poverty, labor conditions, and the national market's impact during this transformative period.
