Movement
Was a historic path used by pioneers during the mid-19th century to travel from the eastern part of the United States to the western territories, particularly Oregon. It stretched approximately 2,170 miles and played a crucial role in westward expansion.
The Oregan Trail
Refers to areas where significant deposits of gold are found. During several gold rushes in the 19th century, such as the California Gold Rush, people flocked to goldfields in hopes of finding and mining gold.
Goldfields
: Was a legendary figure of the American Old West. He gained fame as a buffalo hunter, army scout, and showman, touring with his "Wild West" shows that featured reenactments of frontier life and Native American battles
was an American business magnate and philanthropist who co-founded the Standard Oil Company, dominating the American oil industry and later devoted himself to philanthropy, making significant contributions to education, medicine, and public health.
John D Rockerfella
The process by which a single company or entity gains control or dominance over a particular market or industry. It often involves the exclusion of potential competitors and can result in limited consumer choices and higher prices.
Monopoly
Refers to a railway system that connected the eastern and western parts of the United States. Completed in 1869, it significantly shortened travel time and facilitated the transportation of people, goods, and resources across the country.
Transcontinental Railroad
Individuals who search for valuable minerals, particularly gold or other precious metals, in the hopes of striking it rich. They engage in prospecting, which involves exploring, surveying, and testing potential mining sites.
Prospector
Native American tribes that inhabited the Great Plains region of North America. They played significant roles in the history of westward expansion and frequently clashed with U.S. military forces seeking to control their lands.
Sioux or Cheyenne:
A federal agency responsible for conducting the national census in the United States. It gathers demographic data, including population counts, to provide information for political representation, policy formulation, and resource allocation.
The U.S. Census Bureau
Is an economic system characterized by private ownership of resources and the means of production. In this system, prices, production, and distribution of goods and services are determined primarily by supply and demand, with minimal government intervention.
Free Market System
Refers to the railroad track laid by the Union Pacific Railroad Company during the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad. The Union Pacific was one of the companies responsible for building the western portion of the rail line.
Union Pacific track:
A method of searching for gold or other minerals in streams or riverbeds. Prospectors use a shallow, metal pan to scoop up sediment and then swirl it in water. The process allows heavier materials, such as gold, to settle in the bottom of the pan while lighter materials are washed away.
Panning
An agreement between the United States government and several indigenous tribes, including the Sioux and Cheyenne. The treaty established specific land boundaries and promised indigenous peoples the rights to self-governance and protection of their territories.
Fort Laramie Treaty
was a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist who built a massive steel empire in the late 19th century and later dedicated himself to philanthropy, becoming one of the most prominent philanthropists of his time.
Andrew Carniege
A system where business success or regulatory favors are given to individuals or companies based on personal relationships or political connections, rather than merit or fair competition. It often involves preferential treatment and can lead to corruption and inefficiency.
Crony Capitalism
It was the mass internal movement of people from the rural south to the urban north
The Great Migration
A transformative event in American history that occurred in the mid-19th century, when thousands of people from around the world migrated in pursuit of newfound wealth and opportunities due to the discovery of gold.
California Gold Rush
Was a U.S. law that aimed to assimilate Native American tribes into mainstream American society by transitioning communal lands into individual ownership. The act led to the loss of vast amounts of indigenous lands and disrupted traditional tribal customs.
Dawes Act
typically refers to an organization or agreement between competing companies in the same industry to control prices, production, and market share, often leading to reduced competition and increased profits for those involved.
Cartel
Business arrangements where multiple companies merge or consolidate their resources and operations under a single entity. Trusts can lead to increased market consolidation and often result in decreased competition
Trusts
Banning specific groups based on their ethnicity in order to keep America "pure"
Nativism
The discovery of gold in this area in the 19th century sparked a rush of prospectors and settlers, leading to conflicts with Native American tribes and ultimately resulting in controversial and tragic events.
The Black Hills
A religious movement that emerged among various Native American tribes in the late 19th century. Led by spiritual leader Wovoka, also known as Jack Wilson, it involved ritual dances and songs with the belief that performing these would bring about spiritual renewal, the return of the buffalo, and the removal of white settlers.
The Ghost Dance Movement
This 19th-century group in America comprised a diverse group of individuals, including factory workers, immigrants, farmers, and laborers, who often faced difficult working conditions, long hours, low pay, and limited rights and protections.
The working class
An economic philosophy that advocates minimal government interference and regulation in economic activities. It promotes the idea that free markets, driven by individual self-interest and competition, can effectively allocate resources and promote economic growth.
Laissez-faire capitalism: