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
19
Q
what was the Dawes Act of 1887?
A
- each Indian family was given a 160 acre share of reservation land: a homestead plot
- 80 acres for single Indians, 40 acres for orphans under 18
- Indians who took the allotment and left the reservation could become US citizens
- their allotments could not be sold for 25 years
- all the other reservation land left over could be sold to whites
20
Q
what were the aims of the Dawes Act of 1887?
A
- encourage Indians to assimilate and become US citizens
- encourage individuality instead of tribes
- encourage Indian families to farm for themselves not rely on the tribe
- free up land for white settlers
- reduce the influence of chiefs and the tribal council
- reduce the cost of running reservations
21
Q
what was the significance of the Dawes Act?
A
- did not improve conditions for Indians
- by 1890, Indians lost half their land
- Indians who took up allotments could not farm successfully and the land conditions were bad
- most Indians quickly sold their land and were left landless
- white Americans cheated many Indians into selling their land
22
Q
what happened to the Indian Frontier?
A
- in 1890, the US census office declared that there was no longer a frontier line between white settlement and “wilderness” (Indian lands)
- the USA had complete control of the West
23
Q
what was the Ghost Dance?
A
- a desperate response to their current situation
- in 1890, Sioux rations were cut and their crops failed
- an Indian had a vision of restoration if they kept dancing
- the army moved in to stop the dancing
- Sitting Bull was killed so he would not lead a rebellion
- Sitting Bull’s followers fled south to join the Big Foot band
24
Q
what was the Wounded Knee Massacre?
A
- 29th December 1890
- Big Foot’s band was caught by the army
- they were taken to Wounded Knee Massacre and were disarmed
- the Indians started dancing and shooting broke out
- after 10 minutes, 250 Indians and 25 soldiers were dead
- this signified the end of Indian resistance
25
what were the impacts of the Wounded Knee Massacre (1890)?
- the end of Sioux bands resisting army control
- last clash between the Sioux and the army
- Wounded Knee became a key symbol of oppression
- the end of the Indian Frontier
- the end of the Ghost Dance
- the Massacre confirmed white views about needing to "exterminate" the Indians
25
what were the key factors to the end of the Plains Indians way of life?
- railroads in the West
- the extermination of the Buffalo
- the government's reservation policy
- the discovery of gold in the West
- homesteads on the Plains
26
what was life like on reservations?
- reservation land: infertile, no minerals and hard to survive
- Indian agents: often corrupt, cheated the Indians
- living conditions: poor rations, failing crops, diseases
- Indian Agency Police: some Indians joined this force and received supplies in return
27
how were chiefs affected by reservations?
- the government gradually removed their influence over the bands and tribes
- 1871: chiefs no longer signed treaties
- 1880s: chiefs no longer look after reservations
- 1883: Indians were judged and punished in special courts
28
how were Indian children affected by reservations?
- they were forced to schools where they were punished for using their own language and respecting their culture
- they didn't fit in with their families and were not accepted by the whites
29
how were Indian beliefs affected by reservations?
- there was an end to feasts, dances and ceremonies
- missionaries were sent out
30
how were Indian skills and traditions affected by reservations?
- they were not allowed to hunt
- no horses on reservations, so they turned to "white" skills
31
what did white Americans use the buffalo for?
- for warm coats but removing the coat was a long, skilful procedure
- in 1871, a new technique was discovered and buffalo hunting became very profitable
32
what did the buffalo mean to the Indians?
- it was their way of life
33
how was the buffalo exterminated?
- their habitat was crossed by railroads, companies used hunters to kill them
- they were killed by tourists
- their hides were made into quality leather goods
- their grassland was overtaken by other animals
- they caught diseases spread by the cattle and horses
34
who was responsible for the extermination of the buffalo?
- early on, Indians could leave reservations to hunt but this was banned in the 1860s
- destroying the buffalo meant that Indians were less likely to protest about the loss of their nomadic lifestyle
- neither the government or the army did anything to stop it but rather encouraged it
- whites enjoyed buffalo hunting and the profit from it
35
what was the Johnson County War?
- an example of range wars over the control of land and resources in the West
- this war was between cattle barons against homesteaders and small ranchers
36
give some background information to the Johnson County War:
- the growth of the cattle industry in Wyoming
- the impact of the winter of 1886 - 1887
- tensions between big and small ranchers
- the killing of Eva Watson and Jim Averill
37
how did the conflict of the Johnson County War begin?
- as a result of Watson and Averill dying small ranchers said they would hold a spring round up of cattle earlier than the big ranchers
38
describe the events of the Johnson County War:
- the WGSA hired 22 gunmen from Texas to "invade" Johnson County, they raised 100k
- the invasion failed as the "invaders" got held up and were later surrounded and arrested
39
what were the consequences of the Johnson County War?
- the WGSA's 100k was used to hire the best Chicago lawyers
- the lawyers got the trial moved to Cheyenne
- the WGSA lawyers delayed the trial until Johnson County could no longer afford to keep the prisoners in jail
- the state government (full of WGSA members) refused to help with trial costs
- the "invaders" were set free
40
what was significant about the Battle of the Little Big Horn (1876)?
- the Sioux nation defeated the US army and as a result, the US policy towards the Indians changed
41
what was the role of Custer in the Battle of the Little Big Horn (1876)?
- he did not wait for back up
- he only had 600 men and split them to attack, so they were outnumbered and defeated
42
give some key events of the Battle of the Little Big Horn (1876):
- the 2nd Fort Laramie Treaty gave the Sioux a large reservation
- General Custer sent men to look for gold
- the prospectors staked their claims to the land
- the US government offered the Sioux tribe money for their land and they refused
- in 1875, the Sioux were given an ultimatum: leave or be attacked but the weather made it hard to travel
- Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse defeated General Crook on 17 June 1876
- on 25 June 1876, Custer attacked the Indian camp but he was badly defeated
43
what were the consequences of the Battle of the Little Big Horn (1876)?
- the massacre of the whites shocked and appalled white Americans
- beforehand, public opinion favoured trying to reach agreement with the Indians
- afterwards, white people wanted to destroy the Indians or at least their way of life
44
was the Battle of the Little Big Horn (1876) a success or failure?
- short term success for the Sioux
- long term success for the US army: 2500 army reinforcements, pursuit of Indians to reservations, killing of Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull surrenders, the Sioux gave up the Black Hills
- all of this led to the Indians' eventual defeat
