History: Chapter 17
How did the federal government encourage western settlement?
(1) Homestead Act passage---160 acres of land was given to any settler living on the land for 5 years and improving it by building on it and farming. (2) Oklahoma Land Rushes---government opened large sections of Oklahoma Indian Territory to white settlement; there were 2 large rushes.
In 1887, Congress tried to mend some of the damage done to the Indians by passing the Dawes Act, parceling out land to individual Indian families, but this only led to greater tribal disunity. What actions has the U.S. government taken in the 20th Century to alleviate the plight of the American Indians?
(1) The government began granting Indians citizenship in 1924. (2) It passed the Indian Reorganization Act, which halted allotments and gave reservations limited self-government. (3) It began making it easier for Indians to seek damages for past violations of agreements.
What 2 incentives did the federal government give the railroads to build a transcontinental line?
(1) The government provided land grants along each side of the rail lines. (2) The government provided loans for each mile of track laid
What were the 3 major goals of American foreign policy in the latter half of the 19th century?
(1) To defend the western hemisphere against intervention of European powers while trying to maintain good relations with Europe (2) To create new economic opportunities for American trade in other countries (3) To extend the territory of the U.S. through purchase, annexation, or conquest
What 3 factors hastened the U.S. towards war with Spain?
(1) yellow journalism (2) the deLôme letter (3) the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine in the harbor of Havana, Cuba
How did pioneers overcome the lack of trees in the Great Plains in building houses? In building fences?
Houses---they built sod houses; fences---they used barbed wire
Define Imperialism. What are 3 methods by which an imperialist nation might acquire territory?
Imperialism---the extension of power by one people or country over another country or region by purchase, annexation, or conquest
4. When and where did these 2 companies finally join to form the 1st transcontinental railroad?
May 10, 1869 at Promontory Point, Utah; (4 spikes were driven: 2 gold, 1 silver, 1 gold/silver/bronze)
What method of transportation was most important in the development of the American West in the 19th Century?
Railroads
What was the goal of the American government in its campaigns against the Indians?
The goal was to force the Indians onto reservations
What was the most serious challenge to the Monroe Doctrine during this era?
The most serious challenge was the attempt by French ruler Napoleon III to set up Austrian Maximilian I as Emperor of Mexico!
Why did Americans call the Great Plains the "Great American Desert" before the Civil War?
The region was nearly treeless and suffered from infrequent rainfall.
Why did the Great Indian victory at Little Bighorn actually work to the advantage of the U.S. Army?
The victory caused many Indians who thought the fighting was over to leave the Sioux force. However, the loss spurred the U.S. government to send more men and supplies to defeat the Indians.
Identify: Treaty of Kanagawa, Pan-Americanism, Open Door Policy
Treaty of Kanagawa--- (1854) the 1st ever trade agreement between Japan and the U.S. Pan-Americanism--- a movement favoring greater cooperation and unity among nations of the western hemisphere the western hemisphere Open Door Policy--- (1899) a policy calling for all nations trading in China to refrain from interfering with one another and to allow free trade in China
Name the 2 railroad companies given charters to build the 1st transcontinental line, the city from which each started, and the specific obstacles each faced.
Union Pacific---starting from Omaha, NE and building westward; used Irish immigrants; obstacles: searing heat, waterless plains, Indian attacks Central Pacific---starting from Sacramento, CA and building eastward; used Chinese immigrants-"coolies"; obstacles: had to cross the steepest part of the Sierra Nevada Range
What 3 longstanding differences with Great Britain did the U.S. wish to settle? What treaty settled these matters and provided for greater cooperation between the U.S., Britain, & Canada?
a. (1) The U.S. sought compensation for ravages its merchant fleet had suffered from commerce raiders during the Civil War. (2) The U.S. and Britain had been arguing since the 1840s over who owned the group of islands between Vancouver Island and the state of Washington. (3) The U.S. and Canada long disagreed over fishing rights off coasts of North America. b. Treaty of Washington
What other 2 chiefs, representing which tribes, led campaigns to retain their tribal lands or at least to lead their people to safe refuge in Canada rather than be forced onto a reservation before they both surrendered. What final bloody battle took place in 1890 at the close of the Indian Wars? Where?
a. Apache Chief Geronimo and Nez Perce Chief Joseph b. Wounded Knee Massacre, Wounded Knee Creek, SD---more than half of those killed were women and children
What were the 2 major naval battles of the Spanish-American War? What famous battle was fought against the Spanish that resulted in the surrender of Santiago and the eventual capture of Puerto Rico? Who led the U.S. forces on foot?
a. Battles of Manila Bay and Santiago Bay b. Battle of San Juan Hill c. Theodore Roosevelt and his "Rough Riders"
Why did ranchers raise longhorn cattle for the cattle drives? Name at least 3 factors that caused the end of the open-range cattle industry.
a. Because they were tough enough to survive the rigors of the long and difficult cattle trail. b. overgrazing, bitterly cold winters of 1886 and 1887, further extension of railroads, fencing in ranches for farming
What event almost ended John Hay's Open Door Policy for China? What American actions after this event promoted friendly relations between the U.S. and China?
a. China's Boxer Rebellion- the Chinese rebelled against all foreign powers having trade and relations with China b. Hays persuaded others to accept payments from Chinese rather than insist on territorial concessions. All of the nations involved agreed. The U.S. was promised $25 million, but congress reduced the amount and even sent back what it did collect to China for educating Chinese students in America.
What was one of the most positive elements of imperialism? Name some of the more familiar North American missionaries to Hawaii, China, and Central America.
a. Christian missions b. Hiram Bingham-Hawaii Canadian Jonathan Goforth-China American Lottie Moon-China C.I. Scofield-Central America
Who was the most famous cavalry officer of the Sioux War of 1876-1877? Which 2 chiefs were his main opponents?
a. General George Armstrong Custer b. Chiefs Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse
28. What was the central issue of the presidential election of 1900? Who were the 2 leading candidates, and where did they stand on this issue?
a. Imperialism b. Democrat candidate—William Jennings Bryan opposed imperialism Republican candidate---William McKinley favored imperialism
Name at least one territory that the U.S. gained by each of the following methods: purchase, annexation, conquest.
a. Purchase: Alaska b. Annexation: Midway, American Samoa, Hawaii c. Conquest: Puerto Rico, Guam, the Philippines
What was the largest single American acquisition of territory after the Civil War? What was the most important Pacific addition to the U.S.? What event indirectly caused the U.S. to hasten to annex this territory?
a. The purchase of Alaska from Russia (Seward's Folly) for ($7 million) b. Annexation of Hawaii c. The Spanish American War
What tribes were representative of the Plains Indians? What animal was key to their survival? List as many uses as possible for this animal among the Plains Indians.
a. Tribes: Cheyenne, Comanche, Sioux b. Buffalo---food; clothing; blankets; coverings for tents; curtains; drumheads; bowstrings; "thread"; dice; fuel
Define "yellow journalism". Name the 2 editors (and their papers) who were the leading practitioners of this type of journalism.
a. Yellow Journalism---sensationalized news reporting aimed more at attracting readers than at reporting the truth b. William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer - New York Journal
Name 5 metals that were profitably mined in the West
gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper
