Chapter 17 (West Transformed) Flashcards
Land set aside for native Americans to live
Reservation
Grants of land or money
Subsidy
African American veterans of the civil war
Buffalo Soldier
Tried to end Native Americans wandering and turn them into farmers
The Dawes Act
Herding and moving of cattle over long distances
Long drive
A town at the end of a cattle trail
Cow town
Moves herds north
Cow hand
Settlers who acquired free land from the government
Homesteader
Plains farmers
Sodbuster
Groups of farmers who met for lectures and other events
Grange
Claimed land before the official start time
Sooners
Found near mining camps
Boomtown
Spanish word for cowboy or cowhand
Vacquero
Groups of farmers who pool their money to purchase supplies
Cooperative
Pushed for social reforms
Populist Party
Flat land west of the Mississippi River
Great Plains
Unfenced land
Open range
Provided settlers 160 acres of public land
Homestead Act
An area where few people live
Frontier
Self appointed law keepers
Vigilante
African Americans who migrated to Kansas. It is the first general migration of blacks following the civil war.
Exoduster
Practiced in arid climates by planting drought resistent crops, or planting seeds deep in the ground
Dry farming
Railroads were important to the cattle industry because
Were able to move cattle
Dry farming allowed farmers to
harvest crops in dry areas
Cattle ranchers and farmers were often at odds with one another because
Farmers put up fences
Boomtowns were usually located near
mines
As farming technology improved farmers began to overproduce certain crops, which
lead to a surplus and lower prices
Farmers wanted to increase the money supply so that
grain prices would rise and they could pay off their debts.
Two groups that were among the first to make the West a vital part of the US economy
RR builders and miners
Vigilantes were eventually replaced by
sheriffs, marshals and judges
RR companies wanted to build more tracks heading West because
that is where the boomtowns were located.
The real mining boom in the US did no begin until 1848 in the state of
CA.
Sutter’s Mill, CA was located in the modern day city of
Sacramento
Of the following areas, which would you most likely find silver or gold?
Mountain range
The famous cattle drives of the later 1800’s began in
southern TX
Cattle trails would move west as ______ moved farther west
trains
A cattle drive would typically take
2-3 months
Americans would underestimated the value of the Great Plains called it the
Great American Desert
Why were there more settlements west of the Rockies by 1850 than in the Great Plains?
Gold Rush (mining)
This played a key role in the survival of the Plains Indians
Buffalo
What improvement led to an increase in the number of cattle being ranched in the West around the time of the Civil War?
Trains
Who taught American cowhands to rope and ride?
Vaqueros (Mexican cowboys)
Which of the following DID the Native Americans use buffalo for?
Tepees (shelter), food, clothes, thread.
What caused the US government to break its treaty promises with the Plains Indians?
miners & RR pushing west
Of the 2 companies that built the transcontinental RR, this one started in Sacramento, CA
Central Pacific
Of the 2 companies that built the transcontinental RR, this one started in Omaha, NE
Union Pacific
Of the 2 companies that built the transcontinental RR, this one started on the Great Plains
Union Pacific
Of the 2 companies that built the transcontinental RR, this one started in Sierra, NV
Central Pacific
The Gold Rush put John Sutter out of business because
large crowds over ran his land and destroyed everything.
The man who promoted the myth of the Wild West through his traveling road show was
Buffalo Bill Cody
Cattle ranching and mining had this in common
use of low paid laborers
This caused the deaths of millions of cattle in 1886 and 1887
Very hot summers and frigid winters.
Which half of the US had greater amount of rainfall?
East
Which half of the US was less suitable for farming?
West
Which half of the US had more desert areas?
West
Which half of the US had the Homestead Act targeted this area for farming?
East
Which half of the US had more mountain area?
West
Which half of the US was dry farming popular?
West
Which half of the US was cattle selling for $40/head?
East
Which half of the US had the Great Plains?
West
What is the order of groups that settled in the West?
Native American, Mexicans, Miners, Ranchers, Farmers
Describe the “situational irony” in the story of either John Sutter, Sam Brannen, or the amount of time and track laid between the Union Pacific Central Pacific Railroads.
John Sutter: Expected to be rich, but he ended up poor
Sam Brannen: Expected to be poor, but he ended up rich
Explain the Manifest Destiny played in the settling of the West by Americans.
The nation needed more land for its growing population
Americans could bring growth and democracy to places where it didn’t exist
That Americans taking over the West was blessed by God because it was morally right
Explain why there was a need for vigilantes in the West.
There weren’t sheriffs or marshals.
Explain why the famous picture of driving of the golden spike completing the Transcontinental Railroad was so famous.
It showed the emotions and sense of fulfillment of the completion after 6 years. It also showed the immigrant workforce that worked on it.
Explain why the Great Plains is called the “bread basket” of the country.
There is an immense amount of grain produced in that area of the country.
Explain how the buffalo was the “Wal-Mart” of the Great Plains
The buffalo had many uses including food, clothing, shelter (tepees) and tools.
List the 3 groups of Americans who settled in the West. Be able to describe:
1) Areas in the West they settled
2) Motivation for moving there
3) Hardships they encountered while out West
Miners:
1) West of the Rocky Mountains
2) Gold Rush, Silver Mining
3) Ore was deep underground
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Ranchers:
1) Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming
2) Open Grasslands
3) Bad Weather and diseases killed cattle
Farmers put up fences eliminating the open prairie.
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Farmers:
1) Great Plains
2) Homestead Act
3) Water was scarce
