Westward Expansion and Native American Relations

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Questions and Answers

What economic activity became acceptable due to the open-range system?

Mining

Wheat farming

Cattle ranching (correct)

Timber harvesting

What did the Homestead Acts of 1862 offer to settlers?

160 acres of land under certain conditions (correct)

Guaranteed success in farming

Loans for farming equipment

Free transportation to the West

What significant change in property management occurred in the mid-1880s?

Establishment of large corporate farms

Transition to urban housing

Implementation of barbed wire fencing (correct)

Introduction of crop rotation

According to Turner’s Frontier Thesis, what was one effect of settling on the frontier?

Creation of social and political democracy Signup and view all the answers

What was a challenge faced by settlers moving westward?

Conflicts with Native Americans Signup and view all the answers

What notable government action took place in 1872?

Designation of Yellowstone as the first national park Signup and view all the answers

What was the impact of the Opening of the Oklahoma Territory in 1889?

It created a land rush attracting settlers. Signup and view all the answers

What was a primary purpose of the federal government not selling all land acquired?

To manage preservation parks Signup and view all the answers

What was referred to as 'Seward's Folly' after its purchase?

The purchase of Alaska from Russia Signup and view all the answers

Which tribes were part of the Plains Indians?

Sioux, Blackfeet, Comanches Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant consequence of the government actions towards Native Americans in the 1860s?

Creation of reservations leading to poverty and cultural loss Signup and view all the answers

What did the Ghost Dance Movement promote among Native Americans?

The resurrection of the buffalo and the expulsion of settlers Signup and view all the answers

What was a common reason for conflict between settlers and Native Americans during the westward expansion?

Rapid industrial development and resource extraction Signup and view all the answers

What tragic event occurred due to tensions between Sioux and American settlers?

Sand Creek Massacre Signup and view all the answers

Which military engagement is known for the massacre of Native Americans during the Westward Expansion?

Massacre at Wounded Knee Signup and view all the answers

What ideology fueled the desire of American settlers to expand westward?

Manifest Destiny Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the Dawes Severalty Act of 1887?

To encourage Native Americans to assimilate into farming and private ownership. Signup and view all the answers

Which literary work exposed the mistreatment of American Indians by the federal government?

A Century of Dishonor Signup and view all the answers

What characterized 'boomtowns' that developed in the West?

Their prosperity stemmed primarily from gold and silver discoveries. Signup and view all the answers

How did the Transcontinental Railroad impact the growth of cities and towns in the West?

The railroad's routes determined the locations of new cities and towns. Signup and view all the answers

Which two enterprises were involved in the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad?

Central Pacific and Union Pacific Signup and view all the answers

What was a primary economic advantage of the New South period?

Expansion of the rail network Signup and view all the answers

Who were the primary labor recruits for the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad?

Chinese and Irish immigrants Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant consequence of the mining industry on water resources in mining towns?

Water shortages occurred because of the demands of mining operations. Signup and view all the answers

What was a common challenge faced by poor farmers in the New South?

Limited diversity in crops Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary role of vigilantes in mining towns?

To police the towns and eliminate corruption. Signup and view all the answers

What legal precedent was established by Plessy v. Ferguson?

Establishment of 'separate but equal' Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was a consequence of Jim Crow laws?

Enforcement of racial segregation Signup and view all the answers

What was Booker T. Washington's approach to achieving civil rights?

Economic independence before civil rights Signup and view all the answers

What ideology is associated with W.E.B. Du Bois?

Rapid advancement of civil rights Signup and view all the answers

Which tactic was commonly used to suppress black voter registration?

Implementation of literacy tests Signup and view all the answers

What was a major social consequence of the Jim Crow laws?

Increase in vigilante justice Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

APUSH Period 6: 1865-1898 - Conquest of the American West & the "New South"

Westward Expansion (1860s-1890s): American expansion into the West, including Alaska purchase, led to conflict with Native Americans.
Alaska: Secretary of State William Seward bought Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million. Initially called "Seward's Folly", gold discoveries in the Klondike (mid-1880s) later proved valuable.
Native American Culture: Approximately 250,000 Native Americans lived west of the Mississippi River, often referred to as the "Great American Desert." Notable Plains Indian tribes included the Sioux, Blackfeet, Crows, Cheyenne, and Comanches. These tribes were skilled hunters, archers, and horsemen.
Cultural Conflicts: Government policies and westward expansion created conflicts with Native Americans, resulting in forced relocation to reservations. This caused mass poverty and cultural loss.
Ghost Dance Movement: This Native American movement aimed to restore traditional ways of life and buffalo herds and drive white settlers out of the land with a spiritual revitalization.
Conflicts between Settlers & Indians: Rapid industrial growth and advancements in transportation intensified conflicts between settlers and Native American tribes. Events like the Sand Creek Massacre saw up to 200 Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians killed by American militia.
Western Native American Lands: Conflicts between native peoples and settlers resulted in the loss of land and life. Notable battles, such as the Battle of Little Bighorn, and the Wounded Knee Massacre occurred within this period (1860-1890).
Indian Wars (1860-1890): Conflicts between Native Americans and settlers are discussed in the provided videos.
Americanization Movement: Policies pressured Native Americans to adopt mainstream American values and customs. Acts such as the Indian Appropriation Act (1871) and the establishment of the Carlisle Indian School (1879) illustrate this. Dawes Severalty Act of 1887 aimed to assimilate Native Americans to private property ownership.
Indian Territory Boundaries (1889): Maps of Indian Territory boundaries, highlighting the impact of land-related events and conflicts.
Reactions from the public: The American public reacted negatively to the mistreatment of Native Americans. Writers like Helen Hunt Jackson's, "A Century of Dishonor" documented and criticized the injustices.
Development of the Transcontinental Railroad: Mining towns sprang up across the West, driven by gold and silver discoveries. Vigilante enforcement maintained order, however water shortages were often a major problem. Major railroad construction and expansion played a key role in this period.
Railroad Labor: Chinese and Irish immigrants were part of the labor force of the railroad construction projects. They often faced discrimination.
Railroad Construction and impact: The completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 facilitated westward expansion. This linked regions, spurred population growth, and impacted farming and ranching.
Farmers Settle the Plains: Cattle ranching was a common approach to western land but the open range ranching system changed due to the invention of the barbed wire.
Homestead Acts (1862): The government offered free land in exchange for settlement and improvement over five years.
Closing of the Frontier: Frederick Jackson Turner's Frontier Thesis (1893) explored the impact of westward expansion on American society, describing social leveling, class distinctions, and political democracy. The Oklahoma land rush (1889) sped this process.
Yellowstone National Park Act (1872): The federal government established Yellowstone as the world's first national park.
"The New South" (1860s-1890s): The post-Civil War South faced challenges including continued poverty and industrialization issues. Limited diversification of crops, rise of Southern Farmers' Alliances, and the expansion of railroads.
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): This Supreme Court decision established the "separate but equal" doctrine, which legalized racial segregation.
Jim Crow Era: State and local laws enforced racial segregation in the South. These laws limited black civil rights leading to decreased voter registration, imposed literacy tests and poll taxes, and resulted in "vigilante justice" and lynchings.
Promotion of African American Civil Rights: Leaders like Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois had differing views on how to address racial inequalities and injustices.

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Description

This quiz explores key aspects of westward expansion in the United States, including the economic activities that emerged, legislative acts like the Homestead Acts, and the impacts on Native American tribes. Test your knowledge on historical events, significant changes in land management, and the challenges faced by settlers during this transformative period.