1.1 - Expansion: Opportunities And Challenges

Question 1

Why were people in 1840 not interested in the Great Plains

Answer 1

Dismissed it as a desert - infertile land and just useless

Question 2

Tell me about Texas

Answer 2

In 1845 the us took over Texas

In 1820s others settled in Mexican state of Texas

Texas declared itself a republic in 1836

Question 3

Tell me the belief in manifest destiny

Answer 3

Many Americans began to believe they should occupy country from east to west

It was gods will - bring with them their ideas and beliefs of Christianity, freedom and democracy

Believed they would occupy land better than existing people eg Mexican or Hispanic

So it made it right to go to war if necessary to achieve their destiny

Question 4

Tell me about the first group of Americans to travel west

Answer 4

They were fur trappers - became known as mountain men - thousands of pioneer farmers followed mountain men

Question 5

Why did people go out west

Answer 5

Pull of good farming, better climate or excitement of new

Pushed by the economic depression in eastern states that led to wage cuts, increased unemployment and loss of savings when banks collapsed

Crop prices fell in eastern states - there were fertile farmlands in Oregon and California

Question 6

How long was the journeys for pioneers

Answer 6

4-6 months

Question 7

Tell me about the plains of travelling out west

Answer 7

Early summer storms - trails became mud and could take 2 months to cross the plains

Question 8

Tell me about entering the Rockies

Answer 8

The wagons passed through Sioux territory, water was poor and trail became much steeper

Question 9

Tell me about the Sierra Nevada as an obstacle for pioneers

Answer 9

Early snowfall was a major hazard as the wagons were winched and hoisted across mountains

Question 10

Tell me problems about the Utah desert travelling west

Answer 10

There was very little water and it was very hot

Question 11

Tell me about Brigham Young

Answer 11

Became leader in 1845 - after Joseph smith was murdered

Born 1801

Successfully organised moving thousands of Mormons across great plain and ensured Salt Lake City was a success

Supported polygamy - 55 wives

Question 12

Why did people hate the Mormons

Answer 12

Mormans faced hostility from Gentiles (non Mormons) as they worked hard and were successful - people were jealous

Mormons believe they were gods chosen people and that they were against slavery angered others

Question 13

Tell me about the divisions between mormans

Answer 13

When they settled in nauvoo in Illinois - they had armed forces and numbers grew

But when Joseph smith announced that god had told him polygamy was okay - it divided Mormons and Gentiles were shocked - many believed it was a sin

Question 14

How was Joseph smith killed

Answer 14

When he announced he was standing for president - he was arrested and jailed in town of Carthage

On June 27 1845 a mob attacked the jail and smith was murdered

Question 15

Where did Brigham Young choose to take the Mormons

Answer 15

The great salt lake, east of the Rocky Mountains

Question 16

Tell me 4 reasons why Mormons moved to the great salt lake

Answer 16

The area was very isolated

Reports suggested there was water and fertile farming land available

Would allow Mormons to live close and retain religious beliefs and practices

It was in Mexico and not United States

Question 17

How did Brigham Young move 16,000 across the plains and Rocky Mountains

Answer 17

During winter months oxen, food and equipment were bought and wagons built

In Feb 1846 groups set off across Mississippi to build the first chain of rest stops across the plains, also set up faculties to repair wagons and plant crops

• then Mormons would travel in a steady stream of seperate wagon trails - each about 100 wagons

Question 18

How did Brigham Young survive the winters

Answer 18

Winters on plains were harsh were harsh

Food and fuel ran low and over 700 died in the winter quarters
- rest survived

Question 19

Tell me about the pioneer band

Answer 19

In the spring Brigham Young led a pioneer band onwards through the south pass in the Rockies to the great salt lake, clearing the path for the rest of wagons to follow

Question 20

How did Brigham settle Salt Lake City

Answer 20

Young was able to ensure the church allocated land to people according to their needs

Access to water was managed by a system of irrigation ditches and a timetable for when induviduals could draw off water for their own plots

Working as a co-operative - they could feed themselves

Question 21

What happened to the Mormons after Mexican American war

Answer 21

Salt Lake City became us territory and Young founded a new state called Deseret, government refused but the territory of Utah was created - smaller than Deseret and Young was appointed first governor

Question 22

How did Mormons attract converts

Answer 22

Missionaries sent to Europe and South America to gather converts

A perpetual emigrating fund was established to pay for their travel to Utah - population of Utah grew, Mormons became self sufficient p

Question 23

Who were the fourth group of Americans to go out west

Answer 23

Forty-niners, they sought wealth

Question 24

When and where was gold discovered

Answer 24

In 1848 a carpenter building a saw mill in foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range discovered gold

Question 25

How did the news of gold spread

Answer 25

Spread was slow until it was picked up by a San Francisco newspaper - spread rapidly, Gold rush had people arriving from around the world

Question 26

How did population change in California

Answer 26

Rocketed from 15,000 in the summer of 1848 to nearly 250,000 by 1852

Question 27

How did people collect gold

Answer 27

Early miners used a pick and shovel and washing pan Lager the cradle was developed that was basically just a massive version of a pan

Question 28

What were the tensions in mining towns

Answer 28

No organised forces of law and order; the area was still under military control following the Mexican-American war Disputes between miners and local Californians Disputes between miners over mining claims

Question 29

Tell me about the racial tensions in mining towns

Answer 29

Made worse between Americans and Hispanics Chinese labourers Slaves not allowed to stay

Question 30

When was gold rush over

Answer 30

In 1852 gold rush was over and many miners moved on searching for gold in Rocky Mountains

Question 31

How did Indians farm

Answer 31

They were nomadic hunters who moved across plains following the buffalo herds

Question 32

Where did plain Indians live

Answer 32

In a tipi - made from buffalo skins and was the responsibility of the women Could be packed and taken down for transport in 10 minutes In summer it was cool and winter it was warm It's conical shape made it strong enough to resist strong winds

Question 33

Tell me about Indian family life

Answer 33

Spent most time travelling and hunting Men hunted and looked after horses and protected band- warriors Women were responsible for the tipi, preparing food and making clothing and other items

Question 34

Tell me about polygamy and Indians

Answer 34

Most men had 1 wife but rich men could have several Made sense when there were more women than men because of the dangers of hunting and warfare

Question 35

Did bands meet

Answer 35

At least once a year the bands would meet as a nation

Question 36

Tell me about Chiefs

Answer 36

Indian chiefs were not elected but became chief because of wisdom and spiritual power or medicine and skills as hunters and warriors

Question 37

Tell me about Indian councils

Answer 37

Important decisions taken in council - advice of the medicine men, Chiefs and elders were listened to with respect - but men wouldn't tell others what to do Normally council members would keep talking until everyone agreed Whole they talked they smoked a ceremonial pipe To inform the spirit world to help them make good decisions

Question 38

What happened when bands would meet

Answer 38

It could take important decisions such as deciding to go to war - but not all bands had to agree - lead to confusion if some members were peaceful or not

Question 39

Tell me about warrior societies

Answer 39

All the men in a band belonged to warrior society and were responsible for supervising hunting and travelling and for protecting the village

Question 40

Tell me about buffalo dances

Answer 40

Before setting out to bunt a ceremonial buffalo dance was held to call upon spirit world for help in their hinting and to call buffalo closer Buffalo dances were believed to bring them good luck and ensure a successful hunt

Question 41

Tell me about the buffalo hunt

Answer 41

Once they had horses Indians could kill more buffalo Hung was organised by a police of warrior societies to ensure the buffalo were not scared away before all was ready and that not too many buffalo were killed

Question 42

Tell me some used of buffalo

Answer 42

Hooves were used to make glue Fur used for clothes Fat used to make soap and as hair grease Bones used for arrowheads, dice, jewellery etc

Question 43

Tell me about after the hunt

Answer 43

Once buffalo died it was butchered by the women and children The meat was eaten or preserved, hides processed and when ready would be made into clothing or tipi covers

Question 44

Tell me about the importance of the horse to plains Indians

Answer 44

The horse was vital to plains Indians - used to hints and to transport things Horses enabled warriors to raid over longer distances Gave a new reason for warfare - stealing horses Changed the way individuals actually fought and led to war skills in horsemanship Plains Indians counter their wealth by the number of horses they owned

Question 45

Tell me about Indian warfare

Answer 45

Warfare to Sioux was a series of raids by small groups of warriors Plains Indians did this to steal horses, seek revenge or destroy their enemies Indians didn't believe Indians could own land but there was rivalry for hunting and living space Wars happened in summers when resources were plentiful

Question 46

Tell me about counting coup

Answer 46

The arrival of gun made war more destructive Indians counted coup and was considered braver to touch an enemy than to kill him

Question 47

Tell me about taking scalps

Answer 47

Plains Indians took scalps as evidence of their successes in battle - scalps meant a warrior could not go into the afterlife

Question 48

Why were bodies mutilated

Answer 48

Dead enemies were mutilated to leave them disabled in the afterlife

Question 49

Tell me the early American government policy towards plains Indians

Answer 49

Indians treated as sovereign nations to be negotiated with but over time became a barrier In 1824 the bureau of Indian affairs was set up in the us war department to manage relationship

Question 50

Tell me about the permanent Indian frontier

Answer 50

In 1830 the Indian removal act was passed It established a permanent Indian frontier in the west across the missippi It allowed the removal of the south eastern Indian nations so their lands were available for settlement Indians no longer seen as seperate nations but rather as people under control of the United States The permanent Indian frontier in what became known as Indian territory - removal process complete by 1838 Situation changed in 1840s when Great Plains became a barrier to cross the settlers moving to California and Oregon - miners and Mormons Estimated 11,500 Americans took the overland trail to Oregon and 2,500 to California - during this time there were few violent incidents between travellers and the Indians

Question 51

Tell me about the Indians appropriations act, 1851

Answer 51

In 1850s more people were travelling across plains and moving beyond the permanent Indian frontier the Indians were confined to the reservations and to set up schools - the Indians appropriations act - made to Protect Indians from westward expansion There was a clash of beliefs of who owned land and neither side fully understood eachother

Question 52

Summarise expansion: opportunities and challenges

Answer 52

At the start of 1840s the Great Plains seen as a desert Plains were home of Indians who had a nomadic lifestyle Earlier pioneer farmers began to move across plains in 1840s United States annexed Texas from Mexico in 1845 1846 Mormons crosses Great Plains Victory in Mexican American war doubled size of United States and meant Mormons were not us Differing beliefs in destabilising peace in North America - manifest destiny drove expansion and came into conflict with Mexico, Britain and Indians Mormons tried to leave us over existence of slavery The discovery of gold in 1848 lead to gold rush Plains Indians initially seen as Nations who could be negotiated to ensure free passage for settlers and others moving accross plains Once lands wanted for settlers the Indians became seen as a problem