America- Main information Flashcards
Give 3 examples of states in the great plains?
- Texas
- Kansas
- the Dakotas
Why are the plains called the Great American Desert?
Because the settlers deemed it inhabitable due to its extreme weather making it unfit for farming with the methods available at the time
Give three reasons why the great plains were inhabitable
- lack of trees (wood)
- dry conditions (less water)
- from November to March there were harsh winds called ‘Blue Nothers’ which caused sudden drops in temperature and heavy rain
What was Manifest Destiny?
Manifest destiny was the idea that it is the God-Given right of white Americans to expand westwards across North America
Because of Manifest Destiny, how did the white Americans now see the plains?
Land that had previously been seen as worthless and left to Indigenous people, became a target for farming and settling
What did manifest destiny mean for the Plains Indians?
They had to make way for them, causing conflict and unrest since the Americans had no worries clearing them out the way since it was ‘Gods will’
What resource did the Americans come across when they went west?
Gold and silver, strengthening their economy
Give 3 issues the pioneer farmers faced on their journey west
- Early summer storms which turned the tracks into mud
- In the Utah desert, there was little water and it was dry
- Early snowfall made it dangerous
Give some examples of how some people were pushed west by the economic depression.
- Wage cuts
- Increased unemployment
- Banks collapsed meaning savings accounts were lost
- Crop prices decreased (farmers)
Who were the Mormons?
A group of individuals who followed their beliefs that they were God’s chosen people
Who was the leader of the Mormons?
Joseph Smith and Brigham Young
Why were the Mormon’s persecuted
Because of their belief of polygamy
What is the name for a non-mormon?
Gentile
Where did the Mormon’s move to after they were driven out of Missouri?
Illinois
Who suggested that the Mormons should move and why?
Brigham Young, so they could practice their religion in peace
Where did the Mormons settle and why
They settled in east of the Rocky Mountains because it was isolated
How many people were travelling with the Mormons?
16,000
What did the Mormon’s call their land and then change it to by the request of who?
It was called Land of the Honey Bee but was changed to Utah by request of the government
How many wives did Brigham Young have?
55
How did Brigham Young move 16,00 people west?
He organised the amount of wagons needed (2500) and everyone was divided into small groups, each with a leader. Young gave everyone a specific job to avoid arguments.
Why was life in the Salt Lake Valley very hard and how did they fix it?
- there was no large water supply so they used melted snow
- houses could not be made from wood because there was barely any trees and so they used mud bricks
What country was the Mormon’s area a part of and who was soon occupying that area?
Mexico, the government
Give three push factors from the East for the Mormons
- Lack of land away from the gentiles - lack of independence
- Joseph Smith’s murder by a mob whilst in jail
- They couldn’t practice polygamy without harassment
Give three pull factors to the West for the Mormons
- There were no gentiles and so they had religious freedom
- They could build a new society in Mexico outside the US
- They were able to practice polygamy