Changing Times Flashcards
1
Q
what was the role of dry farming?
A
- new technique
- conserved amount of water in soil
- promoted by agricultural experts
2
Q
what was the role of wind pumps?
A
- new technology
- started with development of “self-regulating” windmills which turned with the direction of the wind
- high steel towers, efficient gear mechanisms and blades were needed to generate power
- by the 1880s, powerful wind pumps had been developed
3
Q
what was the role of barbed wire?
A
- new technology
- first introduced in 1874 to solve lack of wood for fences
- at first it was costly and not strong enough
- by the 1880s, a coating had been applied to make them stronger and cheaper
- the cattle industry used wire to fence off land, railroads used it to fence off tracks
4
Q
describe the situation of the cattle industry:
A
- so much money went into cattle ranching that the open range became overstocked
5
Q
what were the consequences of overstocking on the open range?
A
- as cattlemen made more money, more cattle were bred
- there was not enough grass and oversupply of beef meant cattle prices dropped
- lower prices meant less profit, many cattlemen went bankrupt
- the winter of 1886-87 meant that 15% of cattle died
- many cattlemen went bankrupt
6
Q
describe the end of the open range:
A
- cattle ranchers still in business moved to smaller ranches
- smaller herds were easier to manage and could be sheltered in bad weather
- smaller herds were easier to guard
- ranchers separated the high quality breeds
- smaller cattle numbers reduced supply of beef so prices went up
- this meant the cattle industry could recover
7
Q
what were the consequences on cowboys due to the changing cattle industry?
A
- many died trying to find cattle in the harsh winter of 1886-87
- their lives were much less adventurous
- the cowboys lived in bunkhouses which were not very comfortable
- the smaller ranches only employed a few cowboys so their numbers dropped
8
Q
what was the Exoduster Movement?
A
- in 1879, a migration of black Americans from the southern states to Kansas took place
- the US government opened up Indian territory to white settlers in a series of “land-rushes”
9
Q
what happened after the Civil War to black Americans?
A
- slavery was abolished
- they were supposed to become socially, politically and economically equal but many southerners prevented this
- they kept their former slaves economically dependent on them
10
Q
what were the persuasion factors for the Exoduster Movement?
A
- there was continued oppression in the southern states
- the Bible has the story of Exodus (an escape from slavery)
- Benjamin Singleton promoted Kansas and helped migrants
- Kansas played a part in the fight against slavery
- the Homestead Act and the promise of free land
- a rumour had spread that the government was giving land to former slaves (it wasn’t true)
11
Q
what was a consequence of the Exoduster Movement (farming)?
A
- other settlers had already taken the best land
- most Exodusters had no money to set up farming
- most Exoduster homesteaders found it hard to survive
12
Q
what was a consequence of the Exoduster Movement (responses)?
A
- southern whites strongly opposed the migration
- whites in Kansas did not think the Exodusters deserved help
- Kansas governor set up help for migrants to help them get started
13
Q
what was a consequence of the Exoduster Movement?
A
- by 1880: 43,000 black Americans settled in Kansas
- Exodusters typically stayed poorer than white migrants and had fewer rights
14
Q
what was the Oklahoma Land Rush?
A
- the Indian territory had sections per tribe, the central section wasn’t allocated to any one tribe
- Indian territory was not opened to white settlement and the army had to repeatedly move the white settlers off
- 1889: middle section opened
- 22 April 1889: thousands of white settlers rushed to claim 160 acres
- there were 7 land rushes in total
15
Q
give an overview of Billy the Kid:
A
- grew up in poverty and turned to stealing
- in 1878, he became involved in the Lincoln County War and swore revenge when Murphy was killed
- his gang caused chaos across New Mexico
- after escaping jail, he was tracked down and shot dead by law enforcer Pat Garrett
16
Q
give an overview of Wyatt Earp:
A
- first got into law enforcement in Wichita
- by 1879, moved to mining town of Tombstone where many businessmen were fighting
- in 1880, he was hired by businessmen as deputy sheriff
- after months of clashing between the Clantons and McLaurys, they killed 3 of them at the OK Corral
- cowboys killed his brother Morgan and he took revenge
- the public viewed the Earps as murderers and so they left Tombstone in 1882
17
Q
descrbe Wyatt Earp and the OK Corral:
A
- conflict over resources: the Earps were involved in a war between businessmen and ranchers
- intimidation and corruption: the Earps were accused of criminal acts and increased lawlessness
- law and order: the gunfight at the OK Corral was criticised as lawlessness, many thought he should have been arrested
- unreliable lawmen: Earp was arrested 9 times and law officers often had criminal pasts
18
Q
what were government attitudes to the Plains Indians?
A
- pressure from whites wanting Indian land for minerals and farming
- pressure from whites who thought Indians were being given too much help
- the idea that Indians should assimilate into white America
- the idea that Indians should be protected from whites
