Western Expansion 1865-1898

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Questions and Answers

What was the main issue with the government's land grants to railroad companies?

The land grants were too small and did not incentivize railroad construction.

The land grants led to widespread environmental damage.

The railroad companies sold the land to pay off bonds and overcharged the government. (correct)

The railroad companies used the land grants to bribe government officials.

The Credit Mobilier Scandal of 1872 involved which of these activities?

The railroad companies bribed government officials for business favors. (correct)

The railroad companies overcharged the government for land.

The railroad companies were accused of defrauding investors.

The railroad companies used illegal labor practices.

What economic impact did the construction of the transcontinental railroad have on California?

It caused a decrease in agricultural production.

It led to a decline in mining activity.

It spurred the growth of industry and agriculture. (correct)

It had little impact on the California economy.

How did the California gold rush impact the Native American population?

It led to the displacement and genocide of Native Americans. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main reason for the conflict between Native Americans and settlers in California?

Competition over land and resources. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How did the government contribute to the conflict between Native Americans and settlers?

By passing legislation that discriminated against Native Americans. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What event led to the discovery of the Comstock Lode?

The California Gold Rush. (B) Signup and view all the answers

The Comstock Lode was known for its rich deposits of what valuable resource?

Silver. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary goal of the Dawes Severalty Act of 1887?

To provide Native Americans with land ownership and citizenship. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was the key factor in the fall of the Lakota Empire?

The discovery of gold in the Black Hills. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which event marked the end of the Sioux resistance against the U.S. government?

The surrender of the Sioux in 1877. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary factor in the defeat of the other horse tribes in the Southwest?

The trapping of native forces during winter. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How did the Ghost Dance Movement aim to resist forced assimilation?

By appealing to traditional spiritual practices to revive tribal power. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes the Dawes Severalty Act?

A law that granted Native Americans citizenship and land ownership. (A) Signup and view all the answers

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

It was the only major victory the Sioux achieved against the U.S. Army. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main idea behind the military strategy used against the horse tribes in the Southwest?

To exploit the lack of resources during winter to weaken the tribes. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What were some primary motivations for the creation of industrial labor unions?

Repetitive and labor-intensive work (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does restraint of trade impact the economy?

It leads to economic stagnation and price increases (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which economic/political idea was the U.S. government and general population particularly fearful of?

Communism (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was one reason why unions faced difficulties in organizing?

Frequent resistance from companies and their legal systems (D) Signup and view all the answers

What common misunderstanding about unions contributed to their struggle to gain acceptance?

They were wrongly associated with Communism (C) Signup and view all the answers

How did companies often react to union organizers?

They frequently fired them (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was the effect of legal contracts workers signed regarding unions?

They limited workers' ability to join unions (B) Signup and view all the answers

What common challenge did workers face when attempting to join unions?

Fear of job loss and retaliation from employers (A) Signup and view all the answers

What event is considered the end of the Indian Wars?

The Wounded Knee Massacre (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which process was significant for the cheaper and faster manufacturing of steel?

The Bessemer Process (A) Signup and view all the answers

What year did Sitting Bull get shot by tribal police?

1890 (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which energy source played a crucial role in the early Industrial Revolution in America?

Coal (A) Signup and view all the answers

By 1900, what approximate number was the Indigenous population reduced to?

237,000 (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which city became a major center for steel production during industrialization?

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (B) Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant impact of electricity on American industry by the late 19th century?

Allowed businesses to operate at night (C) Signup and view all the answers

What were some of the main occupations for single women after the Civil War?

Domestic service, school teaching, and prostitution (A) Signup and view all the answers

What did the massacre at Wounded Knee primarily result from?

Disarmament of the Sioux (D) Signup and view all the answers

What limitations did the Homestead Act have in the Great Plains?

It was not applicable in semi-arid regions (D) Signup and view all the answers

What effect did the invention of the lightbulb have on home life?

It allowed people to work and read at night. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What was a major consequence of the exoneration of the 7th Cavalry after the Wounded Knee Massacre?

Increased tensions with the Sioux tribe. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What technological innovations contributed to the expansion of wheat production in the Great Plains?

Twine binder, combine, and gas tractor (A) Signup and view all the answers

What factors contributed to the demand for cattle from the Great Plains after the Civil War?

A growing population in Eastern cities needing food (A) Signup and view all the answers

How did the destruction of the bison population affect Native American societies?

It forced horse-dependent tribes like Comanches and Lakota to confront food scarcity (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary purpose of the Reservation System established for Native Americans?

To keep Native Americans off land desired by settlers (A) Signup and view all the answers

What consequences did the government policies under President Grant have for Native Americans in the 1860s?

Assimilation efforts led to violent resistance among tribes (D) Signup and view all the answers

What happened to the population of bison in the Great Plains by the late 19th century?

It drastically declined to just over a thousand (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was a primary motivation for workers to form unions in the 19th century?

To ensure workers received higher wages and better working conditions. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the text as a reason why workers in the 19th century found it necessary to form unions?

Lack of job security. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does the text suggest is the primary difference between laissez-faire capitalism and socialism?

Laissez-faire capitalism focuses on profit, while socialism emphasizes social welfare. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main argument used to support the idea that unions were necessary in the 19th century?

Companies were prioritizing profits over the well-being of their employees. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the potential consequence of unions not being organized in the 19th century?

The idea of unionization might not have gained momentum and become a significant force in the labor market. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Mexican Cession (1848): Spanish-speaking landowners guaranteed property rights and automatic citizenship. However, Mexican-Americans lost land due to legal proceedings. Hispanic culture preserved in certain areas.
Continued Migration: Mexicans migrated seeking agricultural and railroad construction work. Texas Rangers used violence against Mexican landowners.

The Impact of the Gold Rush (1849)

Sutter's Mill: Gold discovered by John Marshall, sparking the Gold Rush.
Gold Production: 73 times greater by 1854, peaking around 1.4 billion dollars by 1900.
Mass Migration to California: Led to the importance of the transcontinental railroad and telegraph.

Railroads

Private Corporations: Government wanted railroads built.
Land Grants: Government offered land to railroad companies.
Power: Companies became powerful and bought off government.
Overcharging: Railroads overcharged the government.
Credit Mobilier Scandal (1872): Union Pacific bribed federal lawmakers.

Mining Spread Across the West (1850-1898)

Gold and Silver Strikes: Gold in California and Nevada in the 1850s, major silver strike (Comstock Lode) in Nevada. Gold/silver found in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Arizona.
Erosion: Gold and silver eroded into streams.
Prospecting: Gold pebbles, nuggets, dust found.
Hydraulic Mining: Industrial scale mining.
Financing: Required major financing for labor and capital.
Environmental Impact: Reshaped river valleys and destroyed the environment.

Immigration and Settlement

Homestead Act (1862): Gave citizens land to live on and improve.
Population Growth: Population of West grew quickly.
Demographics: Mixed ethnicities, including foreign-born settlers

Industrialized Farming and Cattle Business

Great Plains Ranching: Ranching flourished in the Great Plains after the Civil War. Need for cattle in the Northeast.
Texas Cattle: Texas had cattle, but not sufficient demand to meet growing market needs.
Cattle Drives: Drives from Texas to northern plains states.

Impact of Western Expansion on Native Americans

Bison Destruction: 24 million bison in 1800s, reduced by half by 1870. Used for industrial purposes (leather, fertilizer).
Reservation System: Created to keep Native Americans off land desired by European Americans. Allowed for some self-governance, but reservations faced poverty.
Indian Wars: Conflicts and battles between Native Americans and settlers/the US Army.
Dawes Severalty Act (1887): Goal to assimilate Native Americans; authorized federal confiscation and redistribution of tribal land.
Ghost Dance Movement: Religious movement to unify Native Americans and resist Euro-American policies.
Wounded Knee Massacre (1890): Caused by resistance by and conflict involving American troops and Lakota. Seen as the end of the Indian Wars.

Mass Industrialization

Energy Sources: Coal fueled the industrial revolution. Coal highly abundant in America, but mining was dangerous and low-paying. Iron mining important for railroads.
Steel Production: Bessemer Process improved steel production.
Transportation: Easier transport access to the Midwest.

A New America for the 19th Century

Electricity: Edison's invention revolutionized the 19th century (electric power industry)
Urbanization and Urban Planning: Growth of cities in the mid-1800s, led to need for better urban planning (grid systems, public transportation). New York City became a significant example.

The Rise of Industrial Capitalism

Big Businesses: Companies grew by buying smaller competitors in their industry.
Monopolies: Led to limited competition, resulting in higher prices and suppressed wages.
Vertical Integration: Control over the production and distribution stages.
Horizontal Integration: Merging with or buying out companies producing similar products.
Trusts: A business structure in which stockholders turn over their stock to a group of trustees to operate the business.
Standard Oil Example: John D. Rockefeller.
Sherman Antitrust Act (1890): Designed to regulate monopolies by breaking them up. Difficulty in enforcement.

Evolutionary Theory: Used to justify business practices and laissez-faire economic principles.
Survival of the Fittest: Fittest businesses survive in a competitive environment.
Popular Culture: Portrayed in literature, like Horatio Alger's novels.
Individualism: Reinforced the idea of people achieving success through hard work.

Literature: Reenforced the cult of individualism.
Horatio Alger: Novels popularized stories of orphans/street urchins achieving success.
The Gospel of Wealth: Promoted the belief that wealth was a sign of God's blessing and that wealthy individuals should use their wealth to improve society through philanthropy.

Examples of Industrialist Philanthropy

University of Chicago: Founded with a large John D. Rockefeller endowment.
Carnegie Hall: Built with an Andrew Carnegie endowment.

The Labor Movement

Early Union Organization: Reasons included low wages, unsafe working conditions, injuries, and the desire for better working conditions.
Restraint of Trade: Dangers involved stopping commerce.
Radical Economic Ideas: Communism feared by the US government.
Union Organization Difficulties: Lack of worker protections, companies resistance to unions, and some workers fear of being seen as communist.
Knights of Labor: Early labor union with social and economic reform goals.
Haymarket Riot (1886): Violence at a labor protest, discrediting unions in the public eye.
American Federation of Labor (AFL): Helped labor unions gain acceptance and negotiate deals with businesses.
Women and Unions: Initial exclusion of women, but they eventually worked to organize for improved working conditions.
Socialism: Developed in reaction to perceived excesses of laissez-faire capitalism.

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Explore the economic, social, and cultural developments during the era of Western Expansion in the United States from 1865 to 1898. This quiz covers key events such as the Mexican Cession, the impact of the Gold Rush, and the role of railroads in shaping the nation. Test your knowledge on how these factors influenced migration and growth during this pivotal period.