Westward Expansion (1860-1895)

Question 1

Homestead Act (1862)

Answer 1

bill that encouraged settlers to move west. Gave them 160 acres of land to any settler who was a citizen and could farm the land.

Question 2

Massacre at Wounded Knee (1890)

Answer 2

battle that was the last large-scale attempt by Native Americans to resist American settlement. Federal soldiers opened fire on Native Americans: killing more than 200

Question 3

Dawes Act (1887)

Answer 3

act designed to break up Native American tribes by offering individual Native Americans land to be used for farming/grazing

Question 4

Farmers’ Alliances

Answer 4

organization to unite farmers at statewide/regional levels. policy goals included more available farm credits and federal regulation of the railroads

Question 5

Populist party

Answer 5

formed in 1892 by members of the Farmers’ Alliances, the party: designed to appeal to workers in all parts of the country. Favored a larger role of government in American society, progressive income tax, and direct methods of democracy

Question 6

Turner Thesis (1893)

Answer 6

thesis by Frederick Jackson Turner suggesting that innovation would become more woven into American society. Democracy and self-determination are essential to westward expansion.

Question 7

Morrill Land-Grant Act

Question 8

speculators

Question 9

bonanza farms

Answer 9

large farms that would dominate agriculture in the West in the late 1800s. They used large machinery and workers were hired to perform small, specific tasks.

Question 10

Exodusters

Answer 10

large number of ex-slaves who left the South and moved to Kansas after Reconstruction ended. Many failed to find satisfaction there due to the hostility of Kansas residents.

Question 11

Anaconda Copper Company

Answer 11

large mining syndicate typical of many companies involving mining in the western U.S. during the 1860s+70s. They used heavy machinery and professional engineers. Many prospectors would search for precious metals and sell their claims to such companies.

Question 12

Timber and Stone Act (1878)

Answer 12

Bill that allowed private citizens to purchase forest territory on the West coast. However, instead of citizens, many lumber companies moved westward and bought up land claims from civilians.

Question 13

Sioux

Answer 13

plains tribe that resisted westward expansion and were eventually settled in South Dakota. They fought at the Battle of Little Bighorn and nearly 200 were killed at Wounded Knee.

Question 14

Battle of Little Bighorn

Answer 14

In 1876, Colonel Custer and his men were killed by a group of Cheyenne and Lakota warriors. This was the last major victory by Native American forces over the U.S. Army.

Question 15

Ghost Dances

Answer 15

Religion practices by Lakota tribesmen to keep spirits up in wartimes. They believed a Native American messiah would come to banish the whites and return land and buffalo to the tribes. Overseers became frightened and arrested Sitting Bull and killed hundreds at Wounded Knee.

Question 16

tight money policy

Answer 16

used to offset the effects of inflation. The Reserve Board would increase interest rates on money loaned to banks. With higher interest rates, there are fewer loans and activity, essentially slowing down the economy and preventing inflation.

Question 17

gold standard

Answer 17

economic system that based all currency on gold so that paper currency could be exchanged for gold. Businesses supported this and Bryan ran for president three times opposing this in favor of the silver standard. to support farmers.

Question 18

Grange

Answer 18

an organization formed in 1867 to provide social activities and education to farmers. Some local organizations became involved in the buying and selling of farming plots.

Question 19

Greenback party

Answer 19

political party of the 1870s that pushed the government to put more money in circulation. They supported an 8-hour workday and female suffrage. They gained support from farmers but never a national base. The party tried to help indebted farmers whose products soon began to lose value with continuing urbanization and industrialization.

Question 20

Ocala Platform

Answer 20

platform of the Farmer’s Alliances at an 1890 convention to support graduated income tax, government control of the railroad, unlimited coinage of silver, and direct election of Senators. They were also known as the “Populists” and ran for public office in the 1890s and early 1900s.

Question 21

Interstate Commerce Act (1887)

Answer 21

meant to regulate commission on railroads and their rates to ensure the rates were “reasonable and just”

Question 22

Sherman Antitrust Act (1890)

Answer 22

Congressional legislation to break up industrial trusts such as the Standard Oil trust. It stated that any combination of businesses that restricted trade was illegal. Because of this vagueness and lack of enforcement, few trusts were prosecuted.