Western Expansion 1880-1900

Efforts to transform Native American culture to European-American culture. Assimilation. Assimilation is the process where one cultural group adopts the customs, values, and behaviors of another group, often losing aspects of their original culture.

A battle of the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho against the US Army. Battle of the Little Bighorn. This was a historic 1876 fight in which Native American forces defeated General Custer's troops.

A massacre of several hundred Lakota Indians by the US Army. Battle of Wounded Knee. It was a tragic event in 1890 where U.S. soldiers killed many Native Americans, marking the end of the Indian Wars.

A monetary standard in which the value is defined as equivalent to quantities of gold and silver. Bimetallism. Bimetallism is a historical monetary system where two metals, gold and silver, were used to set the value of money.

Very large farms established in the western US. Bonanza farms. Bonanza farms were massive farms in the late 19th century that took advantage of economies of scale, often using advanced machinery and large labor forces to mass-produce crops, primarily wheat.

A trail used to drive cattle from ranches in Texas to Kansas railheads. Chisholm Trail. The Chisholm Trail was a key route in the late 19th century for moving cattle from Texas ranches to railheads in Kansas for transport to market.

Subdividing Native American tribal landholdings into allotments of private property. Dawes Act. The Dawes Act was a law passed in 1887 to distribute land to individual Native Americans in an effort to assimilate them into American society.

African Americans who migrated from the Mississippi River to Kansas exodusters. Exodusters were African Americans who moved from southern states to Kansas in the late 1800s seeking freedom and land.

An agrarian economic movement among farmers. Farmers Alliances. The Farmers Alliances were organized groups in the late 19th century that aimed to improve economic conditions and political representation for farmers in the United States.

A United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the American Indian Wars. George A. Custer was a controversial figure known for his role in the Battle of Little Bighorn, where he and his men were famously defeated by Native American forces.

Where the standard economic unit is based on a fixed quantity of gold. Gold standard. The gold standard is a monetary system where a country's currency value is directly linked to a specific amount of gold.

A fraternal organization in the US that encourages families to band together to promote economic and political well-being. Grange. The Grange, officially known as the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, was founded in 1867 to support farmers and rural communities.

A land west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains, an important part of westward expansion in the US. Great Plains. The Great Plains is a large, flat region that was crucial for American settlement and development in the 19th century.

Laws by which an applicant could acquire ownership of government land. Homestead Acts. The Homestead Acts were laws that allowed people to claim and settle on government land to encourage westward expansion in the United States.

Land given for the purpose of establishing settlements, missions, or farms. Land grant. In history, a land grant is when a government gives land to individuals or organizations to encourage development and settlement.

The moving of cattle over long distances 1,000 miles and taking up to two months. Long drive. In history, the long drive was the journey cowboys took to move cattle from Texas to railheads in Kansas.

A direct descendants of the first cattle in the New World, known for its long horns. Longhorn. Longhorns are cattle brought to the Americas by Spanish explorers, recognized for their distinctive long horns.

US statutes that allowed for the creation of land-grant colleges. Morrill Act. The Morrill Act, passed in 1862, provided land to states to establish colleges focused on agriculture and mechanical arts.

One of the founders of the National Grange fraternal organization, Oliver Hudson Kelley. Oliver Hudson Kelley was a key figure in forming a group to support and advocate for farmers in the 19th century.

A range land where cattle roam freely regardless of land ownership. Open range system. The open range system was a historical practice in the American West where cattle grazed freely across vast, unfenced lands.

A range of political stances that emphasize the idea of the people against the elite. Populism. In history, populism often involves leaders claiming to represent the common people against a perceived corrupt or disconnected ruling class.

An area of land managed by a Native American tribe. Reservation. In history, a reservation is land set aside by the U.S. government for Native American tribes to live on, often as a result of treaties or forced relocation.

A massacre of Cheyenne and Arapaho people by the US Army 1864. Sand Creek massacre. The Sand Creek Massacre was a tragic and violent attack on Native American tribes by the U.S. military in Colorado.

A Lakota leader who led his people during years of resistance to US government policies. Sitting Bull. Sitting Bull was a Native American chief who bravely resisted US efforts to take over tribal lands in the late 1800s.

An alternative to the log cabin during the settlement of the Great Plains soddy. A soddy is a house made from sod, or grass-covered soil, used by settlers on the Great Plains due to a lack of wood for building.

An agreement between the US and Indian tribes, establishing reservations setting laws. Treaty of Fort Laramie. It was a treaty in 1851 where the US recognized certain lands for Native American tribes in the Great Plains.

An American orator and politician, often called The Great Commoner, William Jennings Bryan. He was a prominent figure in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for advocating for populist ideas and running for U.S. President three times.

The 25th president of the United States 1897-1901. William McKinley. He was a U.S. president known for leading the nation during the Spanish-American War and expanding American influence overseas.