unit 6 test Flashcards
what was the Morrill Land Grant act
one that gave public land to states and territories to create agriculture, mechanical art and military science colleges
what was the pacific railway act
the act that authorized the building of the transcontinental railway
what was the homestead act
act that gave any US citizen who had never borne arms against the US govt the ability to apply for 160 acres of land to farm and create a dwelling on. after 5 years of living on the land, they would own the land.
what challenges were faced in the west=
wind, blizzards, plagues of insects, lack of building materials, limited fuel + water, dry plains, scarce natural vegetation
what were some other reasons that people headed to the west
-gold
-to get away from slave culture (Exodusters)
what are exodusters
African Americans who moved from post war south to Kansas, then California.
why was kansas attractive for African Americans
-never considered apart of south
-close to south, and easier to get there
-known as promised land, due to events like Bleeding Kansas
what did native americans believe about land ownership
land couldnt be owned
what did whites believe about land ownership
-Sign of a better life and prosperity
-if land wasnt settled, it was unsettled, and settlers could take control of it
what was the govt’s policy toward native american land?
land that was native American but unsettled was unclaimed. this led to the settlement of the great plains.
what resource was found in black hills, and what impact did this have on america?
gold, which created another gold rush. US gov’t rushed to buy the land from the natives, who declined. this set the stage for the plain wars.
whats assimilation?
the idea that natives should give their original beliefs, and way of life and accept white culture and beliefs to integrate into society.
whats the dawes act
an act created to Americanize natives
aimed to create a desire in them to own land and farm it
split up reservations between natives, 160 acres for farming and 320 for grazing, though the land wasn’t fit for farming
.
rest was sold for native farming equipment
if accepted, natives would also become US citizens.
how were buffalos destroyed
overhunting by railroad companies for food and money
destroyed natives main source of food
What does the Battle of Wounded Knee symbolize
The end of the Indian Wars, and an era.
