Westward Expansion Flashcards
1
Q
Briefly explain why the following groups moved west Mormons Farmers Homesteaders Pioneers Speculators
A
MORMONS - came from the east to avoid persecution
FARMERS - headed out during 1870s in search of grazing land, to earn more money
HOMESTEADER - moving to Kansas to start a new,cheaper life away from civil war
SPECULATOR - for the gold rush of 1849 - 90,000 did this. Mining camps and towns built
PIONEER - to exploring and discover new territory
2
Q
THE GILDED AGE
- A period of American history from _____ - _____
- The term coined by ______ in _______
- What does ‘gilded’ actually mean?
- National wealth increased by ___ times
- One of the most ______ periods in American history, but littered with ___ and ___
A
THE GILDED AGE
- A period of American history from 1870-1900
- The term coined by Mark Twain in ‘The Gilded Age: a tale of today’
- Gilded means covered with gold, but not really golden on the inside
- National wealth increased by 5 times
- One of the most dynamic periods in American history, but littered with greed and corruption
3
Q
LIFE ON THE PLAINS
People who moved westward depended on crops.
Give three problems that this posed
A
- Neighbours were remote - an issue for women in labour
- Faced tornadoes, hailstorms, blizzards, locusts etc
- Land was cheap, but horses, wagons, fertilisers etc were not. Also, interest rates were high
4
Q
AGRICULTURE
- Farming became _____
- Methods of dry farming were developed to combat ____ so _____
- Increase in _____
- In ___, _______ created the first barbed wire
- _____ cents per bushel in 1867 to ___ cents in 1873
A
AGRICULTURE
- Farming became mechanised
- Methods of dry farming were developed to combat lack of rain so farmers could earn more
- Increase in large scale farming
- In 1873, Joseph Glidden created the first barbed wire
- 78 cents per bushel in 1867 to 31 cents in 1873
5
Q
CATTLE AND RANCHING - Climatic conditions were \_\_\_\_ - Policies enabled individuals to \_\_\_\_\_ - \_\_\_\_\_ per acre - Foreign investors fuelled '\_\_\_\_\_' ALTHOUGH....??
A
CATTLE AND RANCHING
- Climatic conditions were ideal
- Policies enabled individuals to gain land
- 50 cents per acre
- Foreign investors fuelled ‘beef bonanza’
ALTHOUGH….??
Conditions were harsh, workers were exploited, there were lots of disputes and violence over land
6
Q
COWBOYS - Dominant of the road - \_\_\_\_\_ background - $\_\_-\_\_ per month - \_\_\_ hour days Also had to worry about.....?
A
COWBOYS - Dominant of the road - Diverse background - $25-30 per month - 18 hour days Also had to worry about snakes, flooding, native Americans, blizzards
7
Q
RAILWAY
Give 3 positives
Give 2 negatives
A
RAILWAYS Positives - Revolutionised the west - Stimulated the growth of nails turning eg steel and iron - Helped transport meat
Negatives
- Railway companies were heavily corrupt
- The Indians were angry
