US History - The Western Empire - Assignments Flashcards
Plains Indians Tribes (Three)
Sioux, Arapaho and Cheyenne united against whites
Plains Indians
Some lived lives as farmers, but most hunted buffalo, rode small horses and followed herds, building tepees as their only house
Buffalo provided economic basis, flesh, bones and skin were used
Why did Plains Indians dislike Whites
They took their land without their permission and used it for their own advantage
Why did the Chinese first come to the U.S.?
At first joined hunt for gold, hopes of better lives
What jobs did Chinese most often perform?
At first worked in coal mines, but then were excluded at started building railroads at Central Pacific. After that, some moved to agriculture, but most went to cities
Describe the typical pattern of growth and decline in a western mining area
Would recruit paid labor forces, not enough people
Led to higher wages for some workers
When mined out, many workers unemployed
A mining boom would begin and then abruptly decline
What was mined? How?
Firstly ore by hand, then lode or quartz mining, then either disappeared or continued on a restricted basis
Also gold and silver, copper, lead, tin and zinc
What was life like in the mining towns for the miners and residents?
More men then women, had problems finding a mate, most women already married or single women had to work as cooks, laundresses, and tavern keepers
In some cities, prostitution
Many who went to mining cities for wealth remained wage laborers in corporate mines after boom period with terrible condition, some died
What was the Long Drive like?
Ranchers had to get cattle from range to railroad centers, so began driving their combined herds to railroads, suffered heavy losses, long drives established first link between isolated cattle breeders and urban markets of east
What was the life of a typical cowboy like?
There trails were continuously blocked, first by agricultural development, then rustlers and Indians stole their animals, more competition from sheep breeders, farmers blocked trails with fences, range wars: competing for land
Risky business
Why and how were cattle moved from southern Texas to the markets in the East?
Idk
Who were the cowboys?
Mostly men who moved cattle mostly from Texas North till they ran into railroad line, pushed cattle along governmental land, called open range, had to be able to ride a horse, willing to be out in harsh conditions, slept outside, when got to train you where paid, where African Americans, Chinese, Indians
Was it really so romantic?
Not really, cowboys had a lot to lose, risky business, many times didn’t go that well
How did the real West differ from the Wild West Show, romantic version that was popular then and even now?
Romantic view: many opportunities, complete freedom, open land
Reality: however, cowboys had a lot more to lose, it didn’t always go that well
What was their life like in San Francisco?
In Chinatowns there were organizations that served as benevolent societies and filled many of the roles of political machines, organized festivals and celebrations
Other organizations, tongs, were violent
In SF: Chinese occupied lower rungs, worked as laborers, servants unskilled factory hands, some established laundries
Most Chinese women were prostitutes, later family
How were the Chinese treated
They were excluded and not welcomed, passed law to exclude them
Chinese Exclusion Act
What happened to the great buffalo herds?
Were slaughtered by whites, because they supported indians, and also by indians because of growing market
How did this (killing Buffalo) impact the Plains Indians?
They took their source of food and supplies and abilities to resist whites
How did they (Plains Indians) respond?
Started rebelling and attacking wagon trains, stagecoaches and isolated ranches, often fought with whites, then focused more on white soldiers
What was the initial U.S. policy towards the Plains Indians?
Regard tribes as independent and as wards of president
