Native Americans & Westward Expansion

Question 1

Manifest Destiny

Answer 1

Doctrine of white supremacy. Americans have a God given right to populate the whole North American continent. Natives have no claim to the land.

Question 2

Federal Territories

Answer 2

Governed by officials of the federal government who would populate these spaces with settlers, subject to US laws. When population reached 60,000 they could apply to become a state.

Question 3

Homestead Act (1862)

Answer 3

Released 160 acre plots for free as long as the owner

would farm the land for 5 years

Question 4

Timber and Culture Act (1873)

Answer 4

Additional 160 acres if 40 were planted with trees

Question 5

Desert and Land Act (1878)

Answer 5

640 acres at $1.25 if some of it was irrigated.

Question 6

Railroads

Answer 6

Pacific Railroad Act (1862) allows two companies to build a transcontinental railroad. Natives not consulted. Two lines meet in Utah in 1869 from California and Nebraska. Railroads lured people to the plains. In 1870 15,000 passengers boarded the train. 1 million in
1882. Trains disturb buffalo herds

Question 7

Second Gold Rush

Answer 7

Began in Black Hills of Dakota in 1870s. Gold found
in Deadwood Gulch and thousands of gold seekers flock to Deadwood. Black Hills belonged to the Sioux tribe by the Treaty of Laramie but these rights were ignored

Question 8

Great Sioux War (1876)

Answer 8

After failing to get prospectors out of the Black Hills, the government offered the Natives $6 million but this failed. Natives were then told to go to their reservations and those who didn’t by 31st Jan 1876 would be treated as hostile. The policy was then to removed Natives from the Black Hills

Question 9

Battle of the Little Bighorn (June 1876)

Answer 9

George Custer and his men were part of a force sent to round up Cheyenne tribes who had left the reservation. The force was divided into three units and attempted to encircle the camp. The unit of 200 were overwhelmed by the Natives and came under attack. All were killed

Question 10

Reservation Policy:

Answer 10

Natives were sent to reservations to end their traditional lifestyle. The government attempted to ‘Americanise’Natives on these reservations. This would be achieved through education, conversion to Christianity and farmer training. Reservation life was harsh and reservation land was not fertile to cultivate.
Dependent on government supplied food, Natives starved. The dependence on Americans for food, clothes and shelter was humiliating