American West Flashcards
1
Q
importance of buffalo to the Indians
A
- they used every part of the buffalo:
- hide for clothes and tents
- ribs for sledges for children
- horns for weapons and arrows
- brains for medicine
- dung for fuel
2
Q
survival on the great planes for the indians
A
- nomadic lifestyle, constantly moving.
- reverance for the nature and animals
- believes in the spirits of nature and being able to contact it through visions.
- lived in tipis
3
Q
indians attidues towards war
A
- wanted to minimise those killed so they:
- soliders who ran away weren’t considered unbrave
- only selected brotherhoods would go on raids
- counting coup meant sucess and was the act of touching the other on the forehead with a knife to show how close you’d gotten to killing but not actually going through with it showing your bravery
4
Q
what was the permanent indian frontier and when was it?
A
- in 1830
- was a border created between the two countries and lands and promised the indians territory which they would never have to give up.
5
Q
what and when was the indian appropriations act?
A
in 1851
moved indians into reservations as the white us people were more attracted to the land.
the government hoped to encourage the indians to take up farming and eventually live like white americans
6
Q
what factors encouraged migration west?
A
- economic crisis in 1837. unemployment rose to 25% which was a push factor
- news of rich and free farming lands
- oregan trial which was published by jediah smith in 1825 made it easier
- gold being discovered
- journey was ‘do-able’
7
Q
how many people migrated using the oregon trail?
A
400,000 people
8
Q
who were the first people to make it across to the west using the oregan trail?
A
missionaries - 2 married couples
narcissa and marcus, henry and eliza.
9
Q
when was gold discovered?
A
1848
10
Q
consequences of the gold rush
A
- California’s population grew to 300,000
- promoted image of the west as a place people could be succesfull
- farming in California grew
- money helped pay for first transcontinental railroad in 1869
- vigilantes and problems with law and order
11
Q
what was the idea of manifest destiny?
A
belief that white americans have the right to populate all areas of america .
12
Q
problems of migration
A
- needed to complete journey before winter
- needed enough food starving and becoming canniball
- big killer was cholera due to everyone drinking and pooing in same spots
13
Q
roughly how many people died in the Oregon trail
A
around 200,000
14
Q
roughly sum up the donner party (4)
A
- group of 300 migrants who left in 1864
- decided to try a new shortcut but it was too hard to follow and soon it was winter
- they had to camp in the mountains and soon ran out of food/water
- only 80 original members survived by eating those who had died
15
Q
describe the story of the mormans
A
- were a religious group who were persecuted because of some of their beliefs: e.g polygamy
- were forced to leave after their leader joseph smith was murdered in 1845
- were led by brigham young to salt lake valley. the journey was cold ans hard and miserable but due to a good leader they were able to make it there
16
Q
list some things brigham young did the help the mormans
A
- planned logistics of migration
- consulted trail guides
- insisted on strict discipline
- divided into manageable groups
- formed circles at night to help defend against attack
17
Q
problems white settlers faced
A
- the planes were great expanses of desert and hard to farm
- low rainfall
- few trees for wood and timber for houses
- climate extremes like hot summers and cold winters
18
Q
tensions between settlers and plain indians
A
- attacks were feared but they were mostly rumours
- white settlers were extremely racist and due to manifest destiny etc thought they were superior and had rights to the land.
- both were unsure how to other lived, leading to mistrust
- lack of food for Indians due to loads of people
19
Q
what and when - fort laramine treaty
A
- happened because of tensions between indians and white settlers
- happened in 1851
- agreement was that indians leave migrants alone and let the government build on their lands. so long as they kept the agreement they were fine
- government promised to protect them from white settlers and pay them 50,000 annuity as long as treaty was kept
- however communication was bad as no one spoke the same language, not even in tribes
20
Q
problems with the fort Laramie treaty
A
- one man couldnt repsent whole tribe
- indians didnt understand what they signed up to
- the boundaires werent seen as serious
21
Q
problems with law and order in early settlement
A
- there was no order and no police/higher force leading to vigilantes
- 300,000 people in california
- claim jumping was common leading to revenge and violence
- road agents who robbed travellers who common
- prostitues + alcohol
- chinese migrants came for gold and were treated harshly
22
Q
what and when was the homestead act
A
1862
- promoted settlement in the west
- plots were 160 aces for just $10
- anyone could fail a claim so long as they were head of a family
- offered for ex soldiers of american civil war
- proving up was done where they paid 30 from farming to offical own land
23
Q
significance and limitations of homestead act
A
sig
- over 6 million acres became homesteaders land
- nebraska become a state due to large population
- important in encouraging migration
limitations - only 60% proved up - despite governments efforts rich businesses and families just bought the land - 60% of land was never proven up -
24
Q
when was the pacific rail road act
A
1862
25
what was the pacific rail road act?
- helped migration and set up towns
- split the job between two companies: union pacific and central pacific
- 16,000 for every mile
26
effects of the railroad
- economic benefits
- made cow town of abilene
- plain indians moved away from routes
- enabled growth of cattle industry
- encouraged immigration
27
new inventions for farming
- barbed wire kept animals off land and it was cheap and effective but rusted easily and broke
- windmills used to pump water from the ground, they were effective and could get deep water but not power enough and needed constant maintenance
28
what and when was the timber culture act
in 1873
| homesteader could claim extra 16 acres if they planted trees on it.
29
problems of law and order with the railroads
- towns were known as hell on wheels
- cowboys would spend money made after weeks of work
- there were gun fights and murders regularly
- gamblers, prostitutes, outlaws.
- civil war meant there were many deserters and ex soldiers starting trouble
30
who were the reno gang?
a group of ex soldiers who terriorised communities. they would carry out train robberies and steal 16,000.
- gang was eventually caught and dealt with.
31
impacts of joseph mccoy
realised worth of cows
purchased 450 acres of land and send word to get riders from texas to move the cows to the north
was very sucessful and 35,000 cows were moved by 1867.
mccoy became VERY rich
32
good night loving trial
was established by goodnight and loving in 1866.
they saw the opportunity and drove cattle up, selling 800 for 12,000
cattle drivers and the industry and ranches grew hugely as people realised the money involved.
33
john illif
looked especially at fattening up cows on the plains and open ranching.
34
ranchers vs homesteaders
- filed claims for nice land
- ranchers bought land from railroad companies
- took homesteaders to court knowing they were poor and couldn't afford a lawyer
- some threatened homesteaders with violence
35
Impact of the railroads
| 4
- exterminated the buffaloes
- set up many towns
- triggered conflict that led to the Sioux war
- started the cattle industry
36
Problems with the reservation
- Indians moved there against their will they had no choice if they wanted to survive
- reservations showed no interest in their values and culture
- the land is very poor for farming
- agents who ran the reservations were often currupt
- white settlers didn't like the size of the plains
37
What band was little crow chief of
Dakota Sioux
38
Describe little crows war in 1862
They signed an agreement to move to reservations and gave up 24 million acres of land for 1.4 million a year.
Problems were that
Reservations didn't have enough food in winter
The agency's cheated the band and didn't give them the money
Settlers took some of the reservations
So they raided the agency houses for food and then burned them down
They killed settlers of women and children
Many of the soldiers were executed as a result and the rest were moved to even smaller reservations where they died
Little crow was caught, shot, scalped and be headed
39
The sand Creek massacre in 1864
There had been conflict between cheyenne bands and the people who were on their land promised via reservations
After years black kettle set up camp in sand Creek.
And colonel Chivingotn who wanted to kill them all and who was a civil war hero.
Even though there was a white flag they were attacked and killed over 130 women children men
They scalped their victims and took body parts as trophies
40
Impact of sand creek
Black kettle escaped escaped
News of the massacre spread and white settlers were even more angry towards Indians
The remaining dudes were moved to a smaller reservation
41
Red clouds war 1866-68
Gold was discovered in the lands of the lakota Sioux and government tried to build the Bozeman trial which crossed the Indians land
Government tried to make an agreement but red cloud realised they didn't care- already had supplies
Instead he attacked the soldiers
42
What was the fettermans trap
In 1866
| The Indians ambushed some of the calvary men
43
When and what was the second fort laramine treaty
In 1868
| As a consequence of red clouds access the Bozeman trail was closed and they were moved to reservations
