"I'm Outta Here" - Post Civil War Migration
What was the main reason American settlers moved west after the Civil War?
Religious persecution and land ownership
What were the "Indian Wars"?
The "Indian Wars" were a series of conflicts between the United States government (and settlers) and various Native American tribes that took place roughly between the 1600s and the late 1800s, with the most intense period occurring from the 1850s to the 1890s.
How did railroads contribute to the economic expansion in the West?
Connected markets in the East to the West, created jobs, and boosted industries.
What was the Dawes General Allotment Act?
The Dawes General Allotment Act (also called the Dawes Act) was a U.S. law passed in 1887 aimed at assimilating Native Americans into American society by transforming their traditional communal landholding system.
What type of entertainment popularized the mythical American West?
In short, Wild West shows were the main form of entertainment that shaped popular ideas and legends about the American West.
Which act allowed male citizens to claim land in the West?
The Homestead Act
Name one significant event that escalated tensions between settlers and Native Americans.
The Battle of Little Bighorn (Custers Last Stand)
What two major industries fueled the new western economy?
Mining and Ranching (cattle)
How did the Dawes Act change Native American land ownership?
The Dawes Act fundamentally changed Native American land ownership by shifting it from communal tribal holdings to individual allotments.
Who was Buffalo Bill and what was his contribution to the Wild West shows?
Buffalo Bill was a key figure who turned the American West into a global spectacle, creating the Wild West show format that immortalized frontier myths and entertained millions.
What was the primary economic activity that drew settlers to the Rocky Mountains?
Mining/panning for gold
What was the outcome of the Dakota War?
The defeat of the Dakota which resulted in the execution of 38 out of 300 Dakota prisoners of war.
How did railroads affect cattle ranching?
Ended long cattle drives, opened new markets, and created railhead towns.
What was the purpose of the Ghost Dance?
The Ghost Dance was a religious movement aimed at revitalizing Native American culture, restoring their lands and way of life, and resisting U.S. government policies.
What role did women play in the rodeos of the late 19th century?
Women were active participants in rodeos, performing daring riding and roping feats, and helping shape the early culture of rodeo as more than just a male-dominated sport.
Name one of the major trails used for cattle drives.
The Chisholm Trail
Who were the Buffalo Soldiers?
African American soldiers who served in the US Army after the Civil War
What was the role of Chicago in the meatpacking industry?
It served as a transportation hub, central livestock market, meatpacking plants, and also the economic driver
Name one impact of the Dawes Act on Native American communities.
By breaking up communal lands into individual allotments and selling “surplus” land to non-Native settlers, Native Americans lost about two-thirds of their land between 1887 and 1934.
How did dime novels shape perceptions of the American West?
They helped craft the idea of the West as a place where individualism, bravery, and freedom thrived—key parts of the American identity.
What percentage of the workforce was involved in the railroad industry by 1880?
2.5%-3% of the US Workforce, which was made up primarily of immigrant workers.
What was the significance of the Sand Creek Massacre?
The killing of 230 Native Americans, mostly men, women, and children by the US Military after an altercation between the leaders of both groups.
What was the estimated value of a steer in Texas after the Civil War?
$4 to $40 depending upon location
Who was Wovoka and what did he advocate for?
Wovoka was the prophet behind the Ghost Dance movement, advocating for a spiritual revival that promised the restoration of Native lands and ways of life through peaceful, faith-driven action.
What was Frederick Jackson Turner's "frontier thesis"?
Turner’s frontier thesis claimed that the American frontier was essential to shaping the nation’s unique democratic and individualistic character.