Native Resistance
What was the Plains Indians’ main goal in resisting U.S. expansion?
To protect their land and way of life.
What year was the transcontinental railroad completed?
1869
Which immigrant group mainly worked for the Union Pacific?
Irish immigrants
What animal was most important to the Plains Indians?
The buffalo
What invention allowed farmers to fence land cheaply?
Barbed wire
What famous Sioux leader fought at Little Bighorn?
Sitting Bull
What two railroad companies built the transcontinental railroad?
Union Pacific and Central Pacific
Why were immigrants paid less to build the railroad?
They were seen as cheap labor and had fewer rights.
How did the railroad impact buffalo populations?
Led to mass hunting and near-extinction.
What farming tool helped break the tough prairie soil?
The steel plow
What happened at the Battle of Little Bighorn?
Native forces defeated Custer and his troops.
Which immigrant group made up most of the Central Pacific workforce?
Chinese immigrants
What dangerous job did Chinese workers specialize in?
Blasting tunnels with explosives.
What happened to many Plains Indians as settlers moved west?
They were forced onto reservations.
What was the purpose of the windmill on western farms?
Pump water from the ground.
What was the final major conflict between the U.S. Army and Plains Indians?
The Wounded Knee Massacre
What was the Golden Spike ceremony?
The event marking the completion of the railroad at Promontory Point, Utah.
How did immigrant labor speed up the building of the railroad?
They worked long hours in tough conditions with high productivity.
How did farming and ranching affect Plains Indians’ land?
It took away land they depended on for hunting and survival.
How did the railroad benefit ranchers?
It allowed them to ship cattle to eastern markets quickly.
What was one long-term consequence of Native resistance?
Loss of land, forced assimilation, and confinement to reservations.
Name one major challenge workers faced while building the railroad.
Harsh weather, dangerous dynamite work, Native American attacks, or mountains.
What was one long-term effect of immigrant labor on the U.S.?
Increased diversity and growth in Western cities.
What government policy allowed settlers to take western land?
The Homestead Act
How did western population growth lead to conflicts?
It pushed settlers onto tribal lands, causing violence and tension.