Settling West

Front 1

Why were the Great Plains considered uninhabitable?

Back 1

The winters were brutally cold and windy, the summers were dry and warm, and all weather conditions there were tough. It was also hard to grow crops on the infertile land.

Front 2

What factors encouraged cowboys to set out for the Great Plains?

Back 2

Both gold and the fact that the West was portrayed as a mavericky, roughn nose environment, filled with rebels were the fit survive.

Front 3

Describe the lifestyle of a Cowboy

Back 3

Cowboys lived in an area where they lived in harsh environments, with the odds against them facing the Native Americans, the portrayed antagonists. But actually, Chinese immigrants built the railroads, Mexicans were the first vaqueros, and African Americans were in the army, aka buffalo soldiers.

Front 4

How did the Homestead Act of 1862 encourage settlement in the Great Plains?

Back 4

The Homestead Act of 1862 said that people would be given land, 160 acres, if they lived on it and improved it for five years. This would be a new start for some families/small groups.

Front 5

What inventions made settlement of the Great Plains?

Back 5

Sod houses, steel plow, windmill, barbed wire, and reapers

Front 6

What events closed the American Frontier?

Back 6

Fenced in fileds had replaced open plains. The last remaining land was in Indian Territory: Oklahoma land rush white settlers claimed land from Native Americans

Front 7

What jobs did women and men have on the Great Plains?

Back 7

Women were teachers, servants, sewers, or just gave support around the house. Men hunted/gathered food, built things.

Front 8

Describe the homestead and the way of life in the west:

Back 8

Very extreme weather conditions, windy, not many close neighbors, and sometimes brutal encounters with Native Americans. Very loose political and social structure.

Front 9

What was life like for the Native Americans?

Back 9

Mistreated by whites, government takes their culture away, and constantly taken away from their land.

Front 10

What attempts did the U.S. government make to keep peace with the Native Americans.

Back 10

The Dawes Act said intended to encourage Native Americans to give up their traditional ways and turn into farmers.

Front 11

How did each of the following events affect the Native Americans:

Back 11

Sand Creek Massacre killed Cheyenne and Sioux. White settlers found gold in Black hills in 1874, people rushed into the land of the Sioux. Indians were moved off of their land because the railroad interfered with their homes. The Battle of Little Big Horn was a battle in Montana where it was the Native American's greatest victory against the whites. The battle was against a Civil War hero, George Custer. Wounded Knee Massacre was the final battle of resistance against the white settlers, Native Americans stopped fighting for rights. Happened on 12/28/1890. Killed 300 men because of a misfired gun shot. The Ghost Dance was a ritual of Native Americans their dead leaders return and guide them. Settlers thought it was a war dance. It led to war.
Dawes Act was intended to Americanize Native Americans. Bring them to schools and change them.

Front 12

Why did Italians, Russians, and Jews flee from their homelands?

Back 12

Jews in Eastern Europe at the time left because of the pogroms that were killing them and the discrimination. Russians left their homeland because of the corrupt government of Czar Nicholas. All groups fled for better opportunities in America.

Front 13

Describe a pogrom:

Back 13

A pogrom is an organized killing of a minority group. This was particularly popular in Russia, along with Jews in other parts of eastern europe.

Front 14

What happened to the immigrants at Ellis Island?

Back 14

When immigrants went to Ellis Island, they first had a physical examination, then they were asked their name, occupation, and amount of money they had. They slept there as they were processed for immigration.

Front 15

In what ways were immigrants victims of discrimination and hotstility?

Back 15

Immigrants that came to the US were victims of discrimination because of their lack of understanding of what their employers and superiors were saying. An Italian immigrant for example would not know English, and be taken advantage of by being talked to in English and not knowing what was happening.

Front 16

What was the Chinese Exclustion Act? Why was it passed?

Back 16

It was a law that stated there was to be no Chinese immigration to the US.

Front 17

What other limits were put on immigration during this time period?

Back 17

The US had quotas on how many people of each country could come to the US. They also didn't allow beggars and people with diseases.

Front 18

What were the push/pull factors of immigration?

Back 18

Push factors: Corrupt governments, lack of jobs, poor economy, discrimination, pogroms, bad records, lack of resources.
Pull factors: Democracy, abundant amount of new jobs, rising economy, religious freedoms, political freedoms, a new life.

Front 19

Describe life in the tenements:

Back 19

A tenement is a run down apartment. Ill spirited landlords, old rooms, little government control, and many people. Designed for poor immigrants. Not proper hygiene. Dumped garbage onto streets. Some had no running water.

Front 20

What contributions did immigrants make to the nation?

Back 20

All of the cultures turned the US to the melting pot of the world. Things life foods and music started to be used in daily American life. Many skilled workers came to America and contributed in all parts of society.