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
Why did the Indians resist?
Because white men penetrated their land and brought them into poverty, sent them to reservations
How did the U.S. policy change with the Dawes Act?
Now wanted to destroy the tribal structure that was the cornerstone of Indian culture for forever
Took Indian’s reservations, wanted them to become farmers, ADAPT TO WHITES
Gave Indians land and citizenship
Sent children to boarding school, encouraged christianity
How well did the Dawes Act work?
Was very corrupt and inept, government abandoned efforts to enforce it, much land never distributed to land owners
Mahan’s thesis
Countries with sea power were the great nations of history. Effective sea power needed colonies. Wanted defensive bases in Caribbean and Pacific and have Hawaii and other pacific islands.
imperialism
Acquire more land as in colonies, big naval power
What were the key factors that explained America’s desire to expand abroad?
Wanted to be part of the world market
Which (key factors for US to expand) were similar to earlier expansionism and why?
More power, social darwinism
How did Americans change Hawaii even before annexing it?
Wanted Pearl Harbor as permanent base for American ships. Many Americans immigrated. First came for trade, but then wanted more. Merchants, missionaries and planters came. Brought diseases, changed religion, commercial economy
How and why did the U.S. acquire Hawaii?
Sugar planers felt threatened after Congress had eliminated exemption from tariffs, only way to avoid it was to become part of US.
Provisional government sent delegation to DC. Took five years, then Congress said yes.
Did the U.S. do so justly? (Acquire Hawaii)
Not really, Natives did not agree
Why can Queen Lil’ be considered a tragic figure?
She stands for the doom of the natives, I guess?
Queen Lil’
Hawaiians did not excepts Americans taking over their land and replacing them with Asians. In 1891 elevated Queen Liliuokalani. When sugar planters wanted to become annexed and ordered warships to help, queen yielded authority.
The Maine
American battle ship blew up in Havana Harbor with 260 people, many As thought Spain sunk ship, yellow press blamed Spanish authorities
“Yellow Press” (Hearst and Pulitzer again)
Describes sensationalist style of reporting and effort to reach mass market, drew attention to Cuba
Theodore Roosevelt (know well)
Assistant Secretary of Navy, imperialist, proponent of war, strengthened Navy’s squadron and instructed its commander to attack Spanish naval forces in Philippines, who (commander Dewey) immediately after sailed there and destroyed Spanish fleet
Leader of rough riders, resigned from Navy Department to get into war, emerged as hero from conflict, mostly because of his role in leading a bold, reckless charge up Kettle Hill (small part of San Juan Hill) to Spanish, many were killed
Rough Riders
At center of fighting at Santiago, cavalry, real leader was Roosevelt
San Juan Hill
A General, American commander in Cuba, moved to Santiago (Harbor in Cuba), on way defeated Spanish forces at Las Guasimos and in two battles, San Juan Hill
How and why did the U.S. first become interested in Cuba?
Cubans fought for independence with Spain, US sympathized, revolt in 1895 attracted attention in US, especially by Yellow Press, president McKinley lastly intervened
What were the reasons for the U.S. fighting a war with Spain?
Blew up Maine, yellow press just increased sensational reporting, felt for Cuba, were enraged by Lôme letter complaining about US President McKinley, Spain refused to negotiate with rebels
Was it a justified war? (US against Spain)
Idk????
Why or why not? (US-Spain war justified)
Idk
What was the fighting like in Cuba?
Low American casualties, Us soldiers faced supply problems: no rifles and ammunition, unsuitable uniform, bad medical services, bad food, inexperienced army, many black soldiers, racial tensions in Cuba
Were all soldiers treated well? (In Cuba)
Some African Americans were still segregated, and not integrated like Cuban blacks
What were the results of the Spanish-American war?
Spanish accepting Cuban independence, ceding Puerto Rico to US, accepting American occupation of Manila until both nations reached final agreement on Philippines
Puerto Rico: remained control until 1900, when Foraker Act ended military rule and established formal colonial government, 1917 Jones Act declared Puerto Rico to be US territory and made all Puerto Ricans American citizens, American market open without tariffs, more reliant on imported goods and sugar plantations
US also got Philippines
Platt Amendment
Gave Cuba pseudo liberty: could not make treaties with other nations, gave US right to intervene, required Cuba to permit American naval stations on its territory, left Cuba with little political independence
“Open Door Policy”
US wanted access to China but no special advantages
Policy asked countries with sphere of influence in China to allow other countries to trade freely and equally on its sphere without fear
What were the reasons given for and against the annexation of the Philippines?
For: should not return it to Spain, bad business if turned over to France, Germany or Britain, independence for them would be irresponsible, dominate Asian trade, ease how it could be accomplished
Against: Distance, anti-imperialists thought: it was immoral, racists did not want brown people, some workers feared competition, less American liberty, sugar growers feared competition
Which seem more justified in your view?
Idk
Do you agree with President McKinley’s decision and reasoning? Wy or why not?
Idk
Why was the fighting of the war so controversial?
it was very brutal, vicious and inhumane, high American casualties
Was the U.S. justified in its wartime actions - why or why not?
It would be too brutal and inhumane during the war, but afterwards helped building roads, schools, bridges and so on
Why can the “Open Door Policy” be considered imperialistic?
It made US retain influence in China and access to its lucrative trade
