development of the plains 1862-1876 Flashcards
(120 cards)
1
Q
What time period does the development of the Plains cover?
A
C. 1804-C. 1876
2
Q
What significant event in the mid-1860s influenced westward expansion?
A
Large numbers of settlers began to move onto the Great Plains
3
Q
What role did the US government play in encouraging settlers?
A
Encouraged homesteaders and the building of railways
4
Q
What was the Civil War?
A
A conflict between the Northern and Southern states of the USA between 1861-1865
5
Q
What was a major disagreement between the Northern and Southern states?
A
Disagreement over slavery and whether new territories should become free or slave states
6
Q
What did the South fear regarding free and slave states?
A
That more free states than slave states would give the North political power
7
Q
What happened in 1860 that affected the Civil War?
A
Southern states seceded to form the Confederate States of America
8
Q
What acts did the North pass after the South seceded?
A
- Pacific Railroad Act
- Homestead Act
9
Q
What was the outcome of the Civil War?
A
The North won the war in 1865 and abolished slavery
10
Q
What was the purpose of the Pacific Railroad Act?
A
To encourage westward expansion by building a railway from east to west
11
Q
What was the significance of the First Transcontinental Railroad?
A
Completed in 1869, it linked the West to the East, facilitating migration and economic development
12
Q
How did the government support the construction of railways?
A
By giving land to railways, which they sold to settlers to fund railway building
13
Q
What was the Homestead Act of 1862?
A
It gave each settler 160 acres of free land if they farmed it for 5 years
14
Q
Who was eligible to claim land under the Homestead Act?
A
- Everyone
- Immigrants
- Formerly enslaved people
- Single women
15
Q
How many acres were opened for settlement under the Homestead Act?
A
2.5 million acres
16
Q
What was the estimated number of people who claimed land under the Homestead Act between 1862 and 1900?
A
600,000 people
17
Q
What was the condition for claiming land under the Homestead Act?
A
To farm the land for 5 years
18
Q
What was the purpose of the condition to farm the land for 5 years?
A
To discourage speculators looking for short-term profit
19
Q
True or False: The Homestead Act opened land ownership to ordinary people.
A
True
20
Q
What issues affected the Homestead Act?
A
Speculators and corruption
21
Q
What was the overall impact of the Homestead Act on settlement?
A
It helped establish settlement on the Plains
22
Q
What challenges did people face when living and farming on the Plains?
A
Conditions on the Plains made farming and life generally difficult.
23
Q
What groups of people moved to the Plains after 1865?
A
- Migrants from eastern states
- Immigrants escaping poverty and persecution
- Freed enslaved people
- Ex-Civil War soldiers
24
Q
Who developed a stronger steel plough in the 1830s?
A
John Deere
25
What was the 'sodbuster' and who invented it?
A lower cost iron plough invented by James Oliver in 1868.
26
What technology increased the supply of water on the Plains?
Windpumps
27
What significant crop was introduced to the Plains around 1874?
Turkey Red Wheat
28
What did the Timber Culture Act of 1873 provide to settlers?
An additional 160 acres for free if they planted trees on one quarter of the land.
29
Fill in the blank: Settlers originally had to make houses out of _______ due to a lack of wood.
sod
30
What were some responsibilities of women on the Plains?
* Housework
* Children's education
* Collecting buffalo dung for fuel
* Nurturing the sick
31
What social issue did early settlers frequently encounter?
Isolation
32
How did women combat loneliness on the Plains?
By forming church groups and other social networks.
33
What was the outcome of more settlers arriving on the Plains?
The formation of communities, leading to schools and shops.
34
True or False: Not all settlers could afford new farming equipment.
True
35
What type of crops were found to be suitable for Kansas and Nebraska?
Wheat
36
What was a common issue with sod houses?
They became infested with insects and were unhygienic.
37
What was one method settlers used to try to keep insects out of their sod houses?
Whitewashing the walls.
38
What event is referred to as the 'Beef Bonanza'?
A period in the 1850s when the beef trade became very profitable
39
Where did the Beef Bonanza begin?
Texas
40
What happened to Texas in 1845?
It became a US state from being part of Mexico
41
What breed of cattle was most common in Texas?
Texas Longhorn
42
How did the Civil War affect cattle numbers in Texas?
Many Texans left their ranches, allowing cattle to breed; e.g. Charles Goodnight returned to find he owned 5000 cattle from 180
43
What was the role of railroads in the cattle industry?
They connected ranchers with lucrative markets and transported cattle to those markets
44
What were the four main cattle trails?
* Goodnight-Loving Trail
* Western Trail
* Chisholm Trail
* Shawnee Trail
45
How long were the cattle trails typically?
Between 1200 and 1500 miles long
46
What was considered a good day's drive for cattle drives?
15 miles
47
Which trail did early cattle drives follow to reach Chicago?
Shawnee Trail
48
What was the purpose of the Goodnight-Loving Trail established in 1866?
To drive cattle from Texas to Wyoming for sale
49
Who were the primary customers for the beef supplied by Goodnight and Loving?
* The army
* Settlers
* US government
* Indigenous people on reservations
50
What did John Iliff pioneer in 1867?
Open-range ranching in Wyoming
51
What did Iliff do with the cattle he received from Goodnight?
Sold them to the Transcontinental Railroad construction gangs
52
What government contract did Iliff win in 1868?
To supply beef to the Sioux reservation
53
What term describes successful ranchers with large herds?
Cattle barons
54
How many cattle did John Iliff have in Colorado and Wyoming?
35,000 cattle
55
Fill in the blank: Open-range ranching meant there were _____ .
no fences
56
True or False: The cattle industry experienced significant growth after the Civil War.
True
57
What event is referred to as the 'Beef Bonanza'?
A period in the 1850s when the beef trade became very profitable
58
Where did the Beef Bonanza begin?
Texas
59
What happened to Texas in 1845?
It became a US state from being part of Mexico
60
What breed of cattle was most common in Texas?
Texas Longhorn
61
How did the Civil War affect cattle numbers in Texas?
Many Texans left their ranches, allowing cattle to breed; e.g. Charles Goodnight returned to find he owned 5000 cattle from 180
62
What was the role of railroads in the cattle industry?
They connected ranchers with lucrative markets and transported cattle to those markets
63
What were the four main cattle trails?
* Goodnight-Loving Trail
* Western Trail
* Chisholm Trail
* Shawnee Trail
64
How long were the cattle trails typically?
Between 1200 and 1500 miles long
65
What was considered a good day's drive for cattle drives?
15 miles
66
Which trail did early cattle drives follow to reach Chicago?
Shawnee Trail
67
What was the purpose of the Goodnight-Loving Trail established in 1866?
To drive cattle from Texas to Wyoming for sale
68
Who were the primary customers for the beef supplied by Goodnight and Loving?
* The army
* Settlers
* US government
* Indigenous people on reservations
69
What did John Iliff pioneer in 1867?
Open-range ranching in Wyoming
70
What did Iliff do with the cattle he received from Goodnight?
Sold them to the Transcontinental Railroad construction gangs
71
What government contract did Iliff win in 1868?
To supply beef to the Sioux reservation
72
What term describes successful ranchers with large herds?
Cattle barons
73
How many cattle did John Iliff have in Colorado and Wyoming?
35,000 cattle
74
Fill in the blank: Open-range ranching meant there were _____ .
no fences
75
True or False: The cattle industry experienced significant growth after the Civil War.
True
76
What was a significant problem as more people settled in the West?
Law and order continued to be a problem.
77
What did settled areas in the West become?
Territories, which then became States.
78
What system of government does the USA have?
A federal system of government.
79
What is the responsibility of the federal government in newly settled territories?
To control the territories and take responsibility for law and order.
80
How many people were required for a territory to become a state?
60,000.
81
What could people elect in territories as their population increased?
Some lawmen, such as sheriffs.
82
What led to crime on the Plains?
Several factors including gold discovery, cow towns, conflicts between homesteaders and cattlemen, gangs, and racial tensions.
83
What was discovered in Montana and Nevada during the 1860s and 70s?
Gold.
84
What problems did gold rush areas face?
They grew quickly and were attractive to criminals, leading to law and order issues.
85
What activities were common in cow towns?
Drunkenness, gambling, and gun fights.
86
What type of conflicts existed between homesteaders and cattlemen?
They struggled to live side-by-side.
87
What did outlaws form that contributed to crime?
Gangs.
88
Who were some of the outlaws in the late 1860s?
Ex-Confederate soldiers.
89
What created potential for conflict among different racial groups?
Racial tensions.
90
What made policing difficult in the West?
The geography of America and slow transport.
91
What was the role of vigilante groups?
To keep law and order, often brutally.
92
What was a risk for law officers such as sheriffs?
The work was dangerous and they were poorly paid.
93
What was one consequence of the lack of formal law enforcement?
Vigilante groups often sprang up.
94
Who were the 'Buffalo soldiers'?
Black soldiers whose job was to keep order among settlers.
95
What led to conflict between Indigenous peoples and settlers on the Plains?
The arrival of more settlers threatened Indigenous peoples
## Footnote
Indigenous peoples felt increasingly threatened as settlers expanded into their territories.
96
How did railroad companies impact Indigenous peoples of the Plains?
They clashed with Indigenous peoples and built railroads through their lands, violating treaties
## Footnote
Railroad expansion was encouraged by the construction of networks across Indigenous territories.
97
What role did buffalo hunting play in the conflicts on the Plains?
Buffalo hunting was encouraged by railroad companies to feed construction gangs and profit from transporting hunters
## Footnote
Buffalo were crucial resources for Indigenous peoples.
98
What actions did some tribes take in response to railroad companies?
Some tribes derailed trains and ambushed workmen
## Footnote
This was a direct response to the threats posed by the railroads.
99
What did the military do in response to Indigenous resistance against railroads?
The military built forts to safeguard the railroad
## Footnote
This was part of the broader efforts to control the situation on the Plains.
100
How did ranchers contribute to the conflict with Indigenous peoples?
Ranchers drove cattle through Indigenous lands and built ranches, disrupting buffalo herds
## Footnote
This led to attacks on ranchers and cattle drives by Indigenous peoples.
101
What happened when gold was discovered in Montana in 1862?
Miners prospected on reservation land, breaking treaties with Indigenous peoples
## Footnote
This discovery intensified conflicts and violations of Indigenous rights.
102
What was the Reservation Policy and how did it affect Indigenous peoples?
More Indigenous peoples were moved to reservations, often to unsuitable lands
## Footnote
Life on reservations varied, with some tribes facing starvation.
103
What was the outcome for the Navajos after their treaty with the US in 1868?
The Navajos achieved peace and prosperity with sufficient reservation area
## Footnote
This contrasts with other tribes that faced difficulties on reservations.
104
How did the government breach treaties with Indigenous peoples?
Good lands were often taken by settlers despite treaty promises
## Footnote
Many chiefs lacked authority, leading to further violations of agreements.
105
What was Little Crow's War?
An uprising in Minnesota led by Little Crow, chief of the Santee Sioux in 1862
## Footnote
It was a response to starvation and mistreatment faced by the Dakota.
106
What triggered the uprising during Little Crow's War?
Four Dakota murdered five settlers, leading to fears of retaliation
## Footnote
This act initiated a larger conflict involving the entire tribe.
107
What was the outcome of Little Crow's War?
The Dakota were defeated, resulting in hangings and expulsion from their land
## Footnote
This marked a significant loss for the Dakota people.
108
Fill in the blank: Many tribes wanted ______, but the situation had become intolerable.
peace
## Footnote
Many Indigenous peoples were forced into conflicts due to ongoing injustices.
109
What led to the Cheyenne Uprising in 1864?
The Cheyenne faced starvation due to infertile reservation land and a lack of buffalo, leading them to raid settlers' wagon trains for food.
## Footnote
This was a result of the difficult conditions on their reservation at Sand Creek.
110
What was the Sand Creek Massacre?
An attack by Colonel John Chivington on a Cheyenne camp in November 1864, resulting in the deaths of at least 163 people, mostly women and children.
## Footnote
The camp was attacked while most of the men were out hunting.
111
What was the outcome of the Sand Creek Massacre?
The Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Sioux retaliated by attacking ranches and settlements, escalating conflict in the central Plains.
## Footnote
This marked a significant increase in violence during this period.
112
What was the purpose of the Bozeman Trail?
To link the gold fields in Montana with the Oregon Trail.
## Footnote
It passed through Sioux hunting grounds, which were protected by the First Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851.
113
What conflict arose from the establishment of the Bozeman Trail?
The Sioux attacked travelers on the trail, leading to military actions by the US army and subsequent conflicts.
## Footnote
Red Cloud, a Sioux chief, negotiated with the army but hostilities escalated.
114
What was the result of Red Cloud's War?
The US army surrendered and abandoned their forts along the Bozeman Trail, marking a significant defeat for the army.
## Footnote
Red Cloud later signed the Second Fort Laramie Treaty in 1868.
115
What did the Second Fort Laramie Treaty establish?
A large Sioux reservation that included the sacred Black Hills of Dakota, and a promise from the US not to rebuild forts on the Bozeman Trail.
## Footnote
Red Cloud agreed to peace, but not all Sioux bands accepted the treaty.
116
What was President Grant's 'Peace Policy'?
Aimed to assimilate Indigenous people into US society peacefully, with military action against those who resisted.
## Footnote
This policy was established in 1868 following failed attempts at peace.
117
What was the outcome of the Medicine Lodge Treaty?
It moved southern Indigenous tribes onto smaller reservations away from settlers in an attempt to establish peace.
## Footnote
The treaty was part of the Indian Peace Commission's efforts in 1867.
118
True or False: The 'Peace Policy' was entirely successful in assimilating Indigenous peoples.
False
## Footnote
The policy failed as Indigenous people resisted giving up their lifestyles, and conflict continued.
119
What did many settlers and army officers, like General Sherman, believe regarding Indigenous peoples?
They believed Indigenous peoples should be destroyed.
## Footnote
This reflects a more aggressive viewpoint during the conflicts on the Plains.
120
What was a significant consequence of the discovery of gold in the Black Hills of Dakota in 1874?
It led to renewed conflict as settlers encroached on Indigenous land despite Grant's policies.
## Footnote
This discovery intensified tensions and disagreements over land rights.
