Homestead/Dawes Act
What was the Homestead Act?
It said that any adult who was or planned to become a U.S. citizen — and had never fought against the U.S. — could get 160 acres of government land.
Where was Chief Joseph from?
Oregon
List at least three jobs that cowboys would do on a ranch.
Herd cattle, repair fences and buildings, and take care of horses.
What regions of the United States did the Transcontinental Railroad connect?
East to West Coast
What happened at the Wounded Knee Massacre?
A force of U.S. soldiers killed over 200 men, women, and children of the Lakota Indians.
Besides making improvements on the land, how many years did you have to live on the land before keeping this “free land’?
5 years
Why did the U.S. government want the Nez Perce to leave their land in the 1860s?
Gold was discovered on the Nez Perce land.
What would cowboys do on a cattle drive?
Cowboys would move a large herd of cattle from the ranch to a marketplace where the cattle could be sold.
List at least three benefits of the Transcontinental Railroad.
People, mail, supplies, and trade goods could be shipped across the country in just a few days.
When did the Wounded Knee Massacre occur?
December 29, 1890
Why couldn’t many poor laborers and farmers take advantage of the Homestead Act?
They couldn’t afford to build farms or buy tools, seeds, and livestock.
What happened to Chief Joseph on October 5, 1877?
He was forced to surrender to the U.S. army.
How many cowboys did it take to move a herd of 3000 cattle?
12
What were the names of the two main railroad lines?
Central Pacific Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad.
How had European settlers destroyed much of the culture of Native American tribes such as the Lakota Sioux?
Bison herds had been hunted to near extinction by white men.
What was the main goal of the Dawes Act of 1887?
To break up tribal lands and encourage Native Americans to become farmers and adopt white American culture.
Where were the Nez Perce forced to move after surrendering?
They were forced to move onto a reservation in Oklahoma.
How did ranchers know which cattle belonged to them?
They would have a special mark burned into them called a “brand.”
What year was the Battle of Little Bighorn?
1876
What did Native Americans believe would happen by practicing the Ghost Dance?
They believed white invaders would leave the land, and things would return to the old ways.
What were some problems caused by the Dawes Act?
The land was often poor for farming, many Native Americans couldn’t afford farming tools, and much of the land was eventually lost to non-Native settlers.
What did his doctor say was the cause of his death?
A broken heart
What were the most important possessions for a cowboy?
A horse and saddle were the most important possessions for a cowboy.
Why did the United States decide to force the Indian tribes out of the Black Hills?
Gold was discovered in the Black Hills.
What did Colonel Forsyth order the Indians to give up?
He ordered them to give up their weapons.