Class Notes

1. Westward Expansion After the Civil War
Essential Question:
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1. Where was gold discovered after the original California Gold Rush?
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2. Because gold was underground _____________________________
became a huge business.
3. Why did mining companies start forming rather than individual miners?
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4. What were successful mining towns called? _______________________
5. List two reasons why these towns became “ghost towns”
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6. Why was railroad transportation vital to the mining industry?
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7. How did the government encourage railroad development?
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2. 8. What was the reasoning behind the transcontinental railroad project?
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9. In the space below complete the Venn Diagram comparing and
contrasting the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroad companies.
10.Where did the two tracks meet?
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11.How did California governor, Leland Stanford, signify the completion of
the project?
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12.Most of Texas during this time was considered, “open range.” What does
this phrase mean?
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3. 13.Why were cattle transported on “long drives?”
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14.What was a “cow town?”
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15.What kinds of dangers did cowhands typically face?
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16.What name was givento cowhands of Hispanic ethinicity?
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17.Who was Nat Love?
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18.How did the government use the Homestead Act to encourage
settlement?
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19.What material did settlers use to build houses? ______________________

4. 20. Why was this material used? ____________________________________
21.Why was extreme climate such a challenge for settlers?
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22.Farmer’s who settled in the west were called ______________________.
23.Describe the process of “dry farming?”
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24.Who invented the steel plow? ___________________________________
25.What was Sam Colt’s contribution to the battles in the American West?
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26.What material was used instead of wood to build fences?
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27.How did settlers use wind energy to pump water from deep wells?
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28.Which group developed the policy of moving Native Americans to
reservations?

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29.How did the government deal with tribes that refused to move?
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30.Why were Native Americans upset about life on reservations?
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31.A treaty in 1818 was supposed to bring peace with the Sioux over dispute
of the ___________________________ in North and South Dakota.
32.What did the government promise in this treaty?
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33.Why did settlers start to break this promise?
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34.Which Native American chief refused to sell land in the Black Hills?
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35.In 1876, General George Custer was outnumbered in the Black Hills but
attacked anyway. Custer and most of his men were killed. What two
names were given to this battle?
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6. 36.After Little Bighorn, Sitting Bull worked in “Buffalo” Bill Cody’s
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37.Which Apache chief led his people in resisting colonization by Mexican
and American settlers?
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38.Which famous chief of the Nez Perce uttered the words, “From where
the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever?
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39.What led to the surrender of the Nez Perce?
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40.The government believed that Sitting Bull was a force behind which
movement?
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41.After Sitting Bull was killed, 200 Sioux and 25 soldiers were killed at
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42.What is meant by the term, “assimilation?”
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43.What kinds of things were Native American children taught in boarding
schools?
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7. 44.Which law allowed the president to divide Native American land into
allotments for individual sale?
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