History mock 4/11/24

• What was manifest destiny?


  Manifest destiny was the belief that White Americans had a god given right to claim all of the land in North America believing they were superior to Indigenous people
• One consequence of Manifest Destiny 


  Settling onto Plains Indians land and conquering West America forcing Plains Indians to give up their nomadic lifestyle
• What did the homestead Act do?


  Opened up land to ordinary people as it allowed anyone with a family to own 160 acres of land as long as they would farm or plant trees on it
• One consequence of the Homestead Act


  Disregarded race or gender upon registering for the land so allowed for 1.6 million working class people to gain land
• One consequence of new technology

  windmills- were giant water pumps that would pump out water from the underneath the ground sometimes 100m deep

  helped- to water their crops and built irrigation systems to water crops, drink, bathe
• One consequence of the end of the open range

  changed the role of the cowboy where they previously went on long drives with cattle up to 200km away now worked on ranches and jobs centred around mundane ranch jobs such as mending fences
• One consequence of the extermination of the buffalo 


  forced Indigenous people to accept reservations. They relied on the buffalo as a food source, clothing, and was deeply cultural so with the rapid decline they feared starvation and accepted reservations leaving their nomadic lifestyle behind
• How many people were in the Donner Party?

  300
• Why was it important for the Donner Party to leave in April?

  To ensure enough grass for animals and avoid being stuck in the mountains during winter
• When did the Donner Party leave for their expedition?

  May 1846
• What mistake did the Donner Party make regarding their departure time?

  They left a month later than they should have May instead of April
• What happened when the Donner Party reached Fort Bridge?

  The group split up, with 80 members going with the Donner Brothers through Hastings Cutoff
• What was the shortcut that the Donner Party took called?

  Hastings Cutoff
• Why was Hastings Cutoff problematic for the Donner Party?

  It was not marked, making it difficult for inexperienced travelers
• What were the consequences of following Hastings Cutoff for the Donner Party?

  Four wagons broke and 300 cattle died
• When did the Donner Party reach the mountains?

  November
• What weather conditions did the Donner Party face upon reaching the mountains?

  They were hit by snowstorms
• What happened to the livestock of the Donner Party during their ordeal?

  Slowly, their livestock died
• What ultimately happened to the migrants in the Donner Party?

  Many died from starvation
• When did rescuers arrive for the Donner Party?

  In late February
• What was the survival rate of the Donner Party by the time rescuers arrived?

  50 of 87 migrants survived
• How did the survivors of the Donner Party manage to stay alive?

  They resorted to eating those who died
• When was the Indian Frontier created and what was its purpose?


  In 1834 the Permanent Indian Frontier was created intended to keep the Indigenous peoples would live on the Great Plains with white settlers farming land in the East. It was guarded by the US army
• Why did both sides agree with the Permanent Indian Frontier?

  U.S citizens viewed the Plains as a great desert with a harsh climate and lack of water and wood making it unsuitable for settling
• What happened the years 1836-1848

  1836- texas split from mexico joining the US

  1846- USA gained sole control of oregan

  1848 gained huge new territories in the west
• What happened to Plains land as a result 1836-1848


  Indian territory became sandwiched between the two which hindered Government wishes of expanding Westward however they could not ensure the safety of white settlers moving across Plains Indians Land
• Why couldn't the government ensure the safety of settlers?

  they would disrupt and kill Buffalo migrations leading to competition of food between settlers and Plains Indians making them hostile
• Indians Appropriations Act 1851


  the division of land increased tensions leading to this Act

  Where government moved Plains Indians onto reservations

  This did not stop arguments as settlers were scared of Plains Indians attacks and Plains Indians were annoyed by trespassers
• Fort Laramie Treaty 1851


  Agreed that Indigenous people would end fights between tribes, allow migrants through their land, surveyors for railroads, government personnel and pay compensation if this was broken

  Government agreed to protect Plains Indians, make sure settlers wouldn't settle on their land and pay tribes $50,000
• Why did John Iliff and Charles Goodnight crossbreed longhorns with Herefords?


  Eventually, markets demanded a higher quality of meat than the longhorn could provide. These new crossbred cattle had better meat but they were weaker
• What laws did states pass since settlers became concerned with cattle diseases?

  In 1885 states passed quarantine laws changed the way cattle moved

  Kansas shut borders to Texas

  Allowed ranchers to grow cattle herds
• Why did Ranchers grow cattle herds? what were the consequences?


  ranchers became greedy wanting to capitalise on the high demand for beef by overstocking cattle

  After 1885 demand for beef went down yet herds kept growing then in 1886 a drought hit which meant no grass to feed overstocked cattle
• Winter of 1886-1887


  weakened conditions from malnutrition and crossbreeding

  worst winter

  homesteaders fences becoming death traps as cattle piled against them due to blizzards

  thousands of cattle died
• 1862 Pacific Railroad Act


  split the job of building railroads between two companies Union Pacific and the central Pacific

  why?

  because there was a vast area of land to cover
• How much was each company loaned? 1862 Pacific Railroads Act


  $16,000 for each mile of track $48,000 for tracks in mountains they were also given the land either side of the track. created many job opportunities
• When did the work begin and end for the railroads?

  1863 it began 1869 work ended as both ends met in Utah
• What did railroads companies do to get out of debt to the government?


  decided to sell land on either side of the railroad They achieved this by using marketing to encourage settlers to buy their land. Not only that, they laid special trips to show people the area in addition they also had a Bureau of immigration to persuade people from foreign countries to settle on the Plain. Settlers began to live on either side of the railroads
• What did Joseph McCoy accomplish because of railroads?


  Joseph McCoy saw potential in moving beef cattle by rail. Seeing this profitable opportunity, he set up the first ever cow town in Abilene right next to the railroad it transported around 3 million cattle a few years after it was established. Therefore, meaning that railroads were fundamental for the development of the cattle industry. 
• One importance of horses on the Plains Indians Way of life


  they were essential to the buffalo hunt. Before horses Plains Indians hunted Buffalo by driving them off cliffs so, when horses were brought over from Europe in the 16th century Plains Indians utilised them by using them to help hunt Buffalo. They no longer had to drive them off cliffs and were able to hunt buffalo with ease simply by riding alongside them and shooting at them with arrows. After this period horses became crucially important in the hunt for buffalo and became a part of their ceremonies.  
• Why were buffalo important to the Plains Indians


  Buffalo were sacred to the Plains Indians not only that, but they were vital for their survival. Plains Indians would eat buffalo, use their hides for clothes, shelters and bones for jewellery none of it was wasted