American West 2.1

Question 1

What and when was the American civil war?

Answer 1

In 1861 seven south states made own confederacy. Which triggered a war. The Union (north of America) won the war.

Question 2

What where the consequences of the civil war?

Answer 2

The Union gained more land

1865- a total of 600,000 Americans died. With 400,000 injured. Granting citizenship to former American slaves. Ex soldiers. To settle in the west

Question 3

What were the two important laws after the civil war?

Answer 3

1862 homestead act

1862 pacific railroad act

Question 4

what was the homestead act of 1862 and why is it significant?

Answer 4

Land was divided into 160 acres called homesteads. [this could support a family]
Cost 💲 10 for a claim
Encourage individuals to start farming in west( no slavery)

Question 5

What were the consequences of the homestead act?

Answer 5

Anyone over 21 could claim land( ex slaves and women can claim it, no plain Indians)

Someone could buy land for good for $30 whenived there for 5 years ‘proving up’

Question 6

What was the importance of the homestead act?

Answer 6

-1876 six million acres of land sold
- people settled in great plain for first time
- half of Nebraska was under homestead claims(1867) became state
-encouraged immigration (over half of Nebraska population were migrants

Question 7

What were the problems of homesteading?

Answer 7

Only 13 million acres were bought by 1884 (only 16% of gov land sold)

•bought from railroad companies

•60% not proven up

•business owners buy up land to make a profit

Question 8

List the 3 main dates for the pacific railroad act?

Answer 8

1862 pacific railroad act passed

1863 work begins on either end of line (central pacific built eastward, union pacific built westward)

1869 railroad complete

Question 9

What was the pacific railroad act?

Answer 9

A route over 2000km long which went from
Sacramento , California to omaha Nebraska

Connecting north industries with west farming

Question 10

What did the railroad companies gain from the government?

Answer 10

•given $16000 for every mile of track built .(result in $ 61 mil)
• given 45 mil acres of land. That could be sold for profit
• land taken away from plain Indians. Extinguishing there rights
•encouraged settlers from America, and Europe 10,000 Scandinavians.

Question 11

What consequences were there of the rail road for settlers?(9 pts)

Answer 11

-travel was cheaper and easier
- immigration encouraged from Europe
-towns grew along the route
-farmers transport grain to sell in northern cities
-farmers bought food from northern cities
-enable cattle industry to grow
-Manifest destiny came true
-trade routes with Europe and Asia opened up
-Russians introduced turkey red wheat that grew on plains( the mennonites)

Question 12

What was the impact of railroads for plain Indians(3pt)

Answer 12

Indians moved away from railroads
-reduce buffalo. As there was less grassland and settlers huntings

-increased conflict with us army from plain Indians attacking railroad workers (more invasions on white settelers, and whites invading there land)

Question 13

What was railroad impact for homesteaders?

Answer 13

Family living was cheap and easy,

Less isolation

Order manufactured goods from train

Towns created increased social opportunity’s and business links

Question 14

What new inventions were there on farming (2.1 aw)

Answer 14

-1854 self governing windmill

—1874 barbed wire

— 1875 sulky plow

Question 15

What was the self governing windmill?

Answer 15

It could pump ground water to irrigate farmland and fertilise soil. Could pump 30 m deep, but not further 1875 steel blades made them stand stronger in winds. So worked harder. Although needed constant maintenance

Question 16

What was the barbed wire

Answer 16

1874 fenced of crops to protect animals eating livestock
Cheaper than timber, more effective and quiero erect. The early types broke and were expensive (only really used in 1880+

Question 17

What was the sulky plow?

Answer 17

Ploughing tough weeds and grass on Great Plains
Ploughing was easier and quicker. 50,000 sulky ploughing sold in 6 years

Was expensive for farmers. And unstable

Question 18

What was the timber culture act of 1873

Answer 18

In 1873 poeple could claim further q60 acres of land, if planted teees. For more potential rainfall

This provided wind break that shelters crops from damaging

Provide timber for house buildings.

Fuel for fires

Minnesota had huge tree growth

Question 19

How did railroads chase law and order problems?

Answer 19

Lawless towns were cow towns who had cowboys with their wages celebrating(drunk and stupid)

Question 20

Explain The lawlessness in albine (Kansas)

Answer 20

Population from 500 to 7009. There was recent gunfights. Murders. Which attracted prostitutes and outlaws.
Local resident constructed a jail in 1870 which was torn down by cowboys. Who also shot down banning guns signs

Question 21

What did town leaders do In 1870Albine to reduce lawlessness?

Answer 21

In 1870 hired Thomas smith as town marshal. He banned guns and used his forced up reputation( boxing skills) was partial success. In November was shot and killed with axe.
Murderers caught . We’re given life sentence

Question 22

What did town leaders do in 1871 for lawlessness in albine?

Answer 22

Appointed wild bill hickok as town marshal. He feared the cowboys. Did little to enforce laws. Spent all his time gambling in casinos. Sacked him

Question 23

How did the civil war impact law and order?

Answer 23

-was army deserters and ex soldiers in west after war. Who banded together to make gangs as they couldn’t find work

• As there was tension between confederate and union. So confederate soldiers made gangs

Question 24

Who were the Reno fans and what did they do?(1866??)

Answer 24

Group of civil war deserters that bribed law officers and terrorised communities in west.

In 1866, was a train Robert were they opened safe with $16000.

Pinkerton’s were. hired to hunt gang down. Caught John Reno, but to late

Struck again in 1867 and 1868 and took another $96000

Pinkerton captured member and gave up rest of gang for reduced sentence. But we’re captured by vigilante group and lynched