Period 6 1865-1900 2/4/2025

Question 1

What for post-Bellum and Antebellum mean?

Answer 1

P- after Civil war
A- Before civil war

Question 2

What does ‘Post-Bellum’ refer to in the context of American settlement?

Answer 2

The period after the Civil War where Americans began settling in the West

Question 3

Which geographical areas were included in the settlement of the West?

Answer 3

The Great Plains, The Rocky Mountains, Western Plateau

Question 4

What was the average annual rainfall in the Western Plateau?

Answer 4

Less than 15 inches a year

Question 5

Why was the Western Plateau not suitable for farming?

Answer 5

Due to very little rainfall

Question 6

How many buffalo were estimated to be in the area by the time of American settlement?

Answer 6

15 million buffalo

Question 7

What were buffalo used for by the American Indians?

Answer 7

Food, shelter, clothing, and tools

Question 8

By what year had the buffalo been wiped out?

Answer 8

By 1900

Question 9

What impact did American settlers have on Native American lands?

Answer 9

They lost land to miners, farmers, and ranchers

Question 10

What was a contributing factor to the decline of buffalo populations?

Answer 10

Americans killed buffalo for sport

Question 11

Which three states were still territories at the time of settlement?

Answer 11

Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma

Question 12

What developments were occurring in the last frontier during this period?

Answer 12

New towns and steel rails were being put up

Question 13

Why did Oklahoma become a state last?

Answer 13

Because Native Americans were living there

Question 14

What event marked the beginning of the quest for gold and silver in the United States?

Answer 14

The California Gold Rush in 1848

This event initiated a significant influx of people seeking wealth through mining.

Question 15

In what year did the discovery of gold near Pike’s Peak, Colorado occur?

Answer 15

1859

This discovery led to a massive migration of miners to the area.

Question 16

How many miners were attracted to the Pike’s Peak area in 1859?

Answer 16

100,000 miners

This influx significantly impacted the local economy and demographics.

Question 17

What was the Comstock Lode, and what was its significance?

Answer 17

Gold discovered in Comstock Lode, Nevada in 1859 produced more than $340 million in gold by 1890

This was one of the most significant mining discoveries in American history.

Question 18

What are boomtowns?

Answer 18

Towns created overnight due to miners coming to areas looking for gold/silver

These towns often experienced rapid growth and decline.

Question 19

What happened to many boomtowns after the gold/silver ran out?

Answer 19

They became ghost towns

This reflects the transient nature of mining communities.

Question 20

Name three towns that survived after the mining boom.

Answer 20

• Virginia City, Nevada
• San Francisco, California
• Denver, Colorado

These towns managed to sustain their populations and economies despite the decline in mining activities.

Question 21

What significant legislation was passed in 1882 that prohibited Chinese immigration?

Answer 21

Chinese Exclusion Act

This act was a response to the political pressure from Western states due to competition for jobs.

Question 22

What percentage of the western miners were Chinese immigrants?

Answer 22

1/3

This statistic highlights the significant presence of Chinese immigrants in the mining workforce.

Question 23

What was the initial duration for which the Chinese Exclusion Act was supposed to last?

Answer 23

10 years

The act was extended multiple times due to its perceived effectiveness.

Question 24

Until what year did the restrictions of the Chinese Exclusion Act remain in place?

Answer 24

1965

The act was continually extended beyond its initial 10-year duration.

Question 25

What demographic characteristic was notable in many mining towns during the period of the Chinese Exclusion Act?

Answer 25

Half of the population were immigrants ## Footnote This indicates the high level of immigration during the mining boom.

Question 26

True or False: Native-born Americans welcomed the competition for work from Chinese immigrants.

Answer 26

False ## Footnote There was resentment among native-born Americans towards Chinese immigrants competing for jobs.

Question 27

What was the economic potential of the grasslands from Texas to Canada?

Answer 27

Great economic potential

Question 28

Who originally rounded up cattle in the early days?

Answer 28

Mexican cowboys or vaqueros

Question 29

By the 1860s, how many wild Long-horn cattle roamed the grasslands?

Answer 29

5 million

Question 30

What made the cattle business easy to enter in the 1860s?

Answer 30

Cattle roamed freely

Question 31

What were cow towns established along?

Answer 31

Railroads

Question 32

What was a common wage for workers in the cattle business?

Answer 32

$1 a day

Question 33

What factors led to the end of cattle drives by the 1880s?

Answer 33

Overgrazing, blizzards, and drought

Question 34

What percentage of cattle died during the blizzards and drought of 1885-1886?

Answer 34

90%

Question 35

What method did homesteaders use to fence off the open range?

Answer 35

Barbed wire

Question 36

What kind of cattle did homesteaders raise?

Answer 36

New cattle fed on hay and grain

Question 37

What was the result of raising new cattle on hay and grain?

Answer 37

Produced more tender beef

Question 38

What was the purpose of the Homestead Act of 1862?

Answer 38

To encourage farming on the Great Plains by offering 160 acres of public land free to families that settled on it for 5 years ## Footnote The act aimed to promote westward expansion and settlement.

Question 39

How many families took advantage of the Homestead Act?

Answer 39

500,000 families ## Footnote This number reflects the significant interest in settling the Great Plains.

Question 40

What issue did many families face regarding land ownership under the Homestead Act?

Answer 40

Many had to pay for their land as railroad companies bought the land themselves to sell off ## Footnote This led to financial burdens for settlers.

Question 41

What was a limitation of the land selection process under the Homestead Act?

Answer 41

Citizens didn’t get to choose what land they received ## Footnote This meant the quality of farmland varied greatly.

Question 42

What rights did railroad companies have concerning the land acquired under the Homestead Act?

Answer 42

They could build railroads on the land, and citizens had to pay them if they opposed it ## Footnote This created conflicts between settlers and railroad companies.

Question 43

What were some of the problems faced by settlers on the Great Plains?

Answer 43

Severe weather, lack of water, high rate of pestilence and disease, falling crop prices ## Footnote These challenges made farming difficult.

Question 44

Name a solution used by settlers to address farming challenges.

Answer 44

Barbed wire ## Footnote This helped protect crops and livestock.

Question 45

What technology was used to address water scarcity in farming?

Answer 45

Windmills ## Footnote Windmills were essential for pumping water in arid regions.

Question 46

What infrastructure was developed to manage water resources?

Answer 46

Dams and irrigation ## Footnote These systems improved water availability for farming.

Question 47

Fill in the blank: The Homestead Act offered _____ acres of public land.

Answer 47

160 ## Footnote This was a significant amount of land for new settlers.

Question 48

True or False: Settlers had the option to choose their land under the Homestead Act.

Answer 48

False ## Footnote The land received was randomly assigned, leading to varying quality.

Question 49

Why did the government enact the homestead act?

Answer 49

Do give people incentive to move westward

Question 50

What event marked the last land rush in the United States?

Answer 50

Opening of the Oklahoma Territory in 1889 ## Footnote This territory was originally set aside for American Indians.

Question 51

Who wrote the influential essay entitled, 'The Significance of the Frontier in American History'?

Answer 51

Historian Frederick Jackson Turner in 1893 ## Footnote This essay is known as Turner's Frontier Thesis.

Question 52

What was one of the main views expressed in Turner's Frontier Thesis?

Answer 52

Settling on the frontier was a social leveler ## Footnote It broke down class distinctions and fostered social and political democracy.

Question 53

According to Turner, what effect did the Homestead Act have on social status?

Answer 53

People in the east who were poorer could be on the same playing field as those who were richer if they moved west ## Footnote This represented a shift in social dynamics.

Question 54

What concern did Turner raise regarding the future of the United States?

Answer 54

Would the United States be condemned to follow patterns of class division and social conflict like Europe? ## Footnote This question reflects concerns about social cohesion.

Question 55

What was one of the lasting impacts of the closing of the western frontier?

Answer 55

Large movement to cities and industrialized areas ## Footnote This indicates a shift in population and economic focus.

Question 56

What was declining along with the era of the western frontier?

Answer 56

The dominance of rural America ## Footnote This reflects changes in American societal structure.