US History: Westward Expansion and Settlement

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Many Native Americans who agreed to go to reservations...

were generously assisted by government subsidies for education, food, and other supplies.

welcomed the opportunity to assimilate into the rest of American society.

became successful farmers and ranchers.

discovered that the U.S. government did not honor its treaties with them. (correct)

Many Plains Indians refused to live on reservations because...

following the roaming buffalo herds was a part of their culture that they did not want to give up. (correct)

their leaders preferred an honorable death to life on a reservation.

the U.S. government refused to meet their demands.

the U.S. government never offered them a treaty.

The U.S. government attempted to assimilate Native Americans into the white culture by...

establishing American Indian schools and adopting the Dawes General Allotment Act. (correct)

eliminating the Indian reservations.

allowing some American Indian groups to return to their lands and nomadic lifestyles.

canceling all treaties made with Indians.

Sheep ranching...

was introduced by non-Indian settlers moving west from the Mississippi Valley. Signup and view all the answers

When the long cattle drives reached the railheads...

cowboys often spent their earnings freely in saloons. Signup and view all the answers

The cattle boom ended because...

there was a surplus of cattle and the open-range was closed due to barbed wire. Signup and view all the answers

The United States purchased Alaska from Russia in...

<ol start="1867"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

New technology changed mining by...

enabling individual prospectors to compete with large companies. Signup and view all the answers

How did many Native Americans respond to government policies?

Many Native Americans rejected the settlements and some left. Signup and view all the answers

What did railway companies do with land they acquired through the Pacific Railway Act?

They sold remaining land to offset the cost of the railway. Signup and view all the answers

What environmental problems did settlers on the Great Plains face?

Extreme summer and winter temperatures, water shortages, fire, and insects. Signup and view all the answers

What technology did settlers use to overcome environmental handicaps of the Great Plains?

The provided text does not clearly state what settlers used as technology, it says that they said the railway. Signup and view all the answers

Why did cattle ranchers undertake the long drives?

The only way to get the cattle to the markets and realize large profits. Signup and view all the answers

Match each item with the correct statement:

Bureau of Indian Affairs = Willa Cather Wounded Knee = railhead Sarah Winnemucca = open range George Armstrong Custer = Texas longhorn Sitting Bull = Comstock Lode Morrill Act = hard-rock mining Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The US Expansion Westward

Government Policies and Native Americans:
- The US government created reservations for Native Americans with the intention of minimizing conflict with settlers, but many Native Americans resisted this action and refused to settle on reservations.
- The US government aimed to assimilate Native Americans into white culture through policies like establishing American Indian schools and the Dawes General Allotment Act.

The Development of the West

The Pacific Railway Act:
- This act aimed to promote the construction of a transcontinental railroad connecting the East and West Coasts.
- Railway companies used the acquired land to offset the cost of the railway.
- The railway played a significant role in opening up the West to settlement.

Challenges of Settling the Great Plains

Environmental challenges:
- Settlers in the Great Plains faced extreme temperature fluctuations, water shortages, wildfires, and insect infestations.
- They adapted to these challenges by developing technologies like sod houses.

The Cattle Industry

The Cattle Drives:
- Cowboys faced dangers like river crossings and stampedes when driving cattle.
- The long drives were necessary to get cattle to markets and realize profit.
- The cattle boom eventually ended due to overgrazing, the introduction of barbed wire, and a surplus of cattle.

Other Key Features of Western Expansion

Mining:
- Discovery of valuable resources like the Comstock Lode led to booms in mining.
- Early mining required large numbers of laborers.
- New technologies in the 19th century enabled individual prospectors to compete with mining companies.
Key Figures:
- Sarah Winnemucca: A Paiute Native American leader who fought for the rights of her people.
- George Armstrong Custer: A US Army officer who was killed at the Battle of Little Bighorn.
- Sitting Bull: A Lakota Native American leader and spiritual leader known for his role in the Battle of Little Bighorn.
- Joseph Glidden: Invented barbed wire, greatly impacting the open range.
Land and Resources:
- The open range existed before the introduction of barbed wire.
- Texas Longhorn cattle were essential to the development of the ranching industry.
- Railheads were towns or cities where railroads terminated, becoming important shipping hubs.

The Impact of Western Expansion

Reservations:
- The Bureau of Indian Affairs was created to manage the reservations and interact with Native Americans.
Literature: Willa Cather wrote works that explored the themes of settlement and life on the Great Plains.
Tragedy and Conflict:
- The Wounded Knee Massacre was a tragic event where US soldiers killed unarmed Lakota Sioux, marking a dark moment in the history of Native Americans.

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Description

This quiz explores the key themes surrounding the US expansion westward, including government policies impacting Native Americans, the significance of the Pacific Railway Act, and the challenges faced by settlers in the Great Plains. Test your knowledge on how these elements shaped American history during the westward movement.