Mining & Railroads in the West
Why did people begin moving to the West in the 1850s?
To see if they could seek treasure in other parts of the West.
What was it called when Texas ranchers would have to drive their cattle hundreds of miles?
Long drives
What conflict did Native Americans have with settlers?
They competed for land and resources with the settlers
National Grange
a network of local farmers' groups
Reservation
an area of land set aside for use by a group
What were boomtowns?
Towns that seemed to pop up almost overnight near mining sites.
Vaqueros
Western cowhands of Hispanic origin
Most Native American groups were...
Nomadic
What did the Farmers' Alliance support?
Cooperative buying & selling.
Sodbuster
name given to early Great Plains farmers.
What did Railroad companies hope the Transcontinental rail line would connect?
The Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
What Did Farmers first think of the Great Plains when they first arrived?
Dry, Treeless, & not Good for Farming
What did the Commission recommend about Native Americans?
All Native Americans should move to a few large reservations.
What was a goal of the Farmers' Alliance?
Hoped to reduce power that railroads and banks had over farmers and gain some federal protection.
Subsidy
money/ goods given by a person or gov't to support a project that benefits the public.
What enabled trains to pull longer and heavier loads?
New technology
What was the Homestead Act?
law passed to encourage settlement on the Great Plains.
What was life on reservations for Native Americans like?
Was very difficult, harsh conditions
Populism
An appeal to the common people.
Transcontinental
going across a continent.
What did the government offer to companies that were willing to build a Transcontinental Rail line?
Land grants
How did farmers on the Great Plains adapt to their environment on the Great Plains?
Developed new farming methods and tools.
Wounded Knee Massacre
Dec.1890; U.S. Army sent troops to Wounded Knee due to "Ghost Dance." Fire was opened & more than 200 Sioux died, 25 U.S. soldiers died.
What stemmed farmers' motives on becoming politically active?
Economic hardships; experienced low demand and low profit. Received high interest rates from bankers.
Time Zone
a geographic region in which the same standard time is used.