American West GCSE Edexcel History

• The belief in Manifest Destiny led the U.S. to expand westward in the mid-1800s, often displacing or destroying Native American tribes.
• During the Mexican-American War from 1846 to 1848, the United States defeated Mexico and gained control over vast territories including California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Oklahoma, and parts of Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, and Oregon.
• The discovery of gold in California in 1849 triggered a massive influx of people seeking wealth, leading to conflicts with indigenous peoples and the establishment of new settlements.
• The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed settlers to claim up to 160 acres of public land if they lived on it for five years and made improvements.
• The Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869, connecting the east coast to the west coast via rail.
• Railroads played a significant role in expanding westward by providing transportation for goods and people across long distances.
• The Homestead Act of 1862 encouraged western expansion by offering free land to those who settled there.
• The Indian Removal Act of 1830 meant a Permanent Indian Frontier was established in the West part Mississippi. Southern-eastern Indians could be removed so their land could be taken for settlement by Americans.
• Native Americans faced challenges such as loss of land, forced relocation, and cultural assimilation during westward expansion.
• The Trail of Tears refers to the forced removal of thousands of Cherokee from Georgia to Oklahoma between 1830 and 1850.
• 1879


  Exoduster movement - the movement of African Americans who migrated from Mississippi to Kansas
• 1877


  Desert Land Act - settlers could buy cheaply up to 640 additional acres in areas of low rainfall
• 1873


  Timber culture act - provide land in return for planting of trees for shelter and fuel across the great plains
• 1869


  Transcontinental railroad complete
• 1866


  Southern Homestead Act to help poor farmers after the civil war with the aim to help freed slaves. It failed and was replaced in 1876
• 1862


  Homestead Act - individuals could claim up to 160 acres for free, if they lived and farmed for 5 years
• 1861-65


  American Civil War
• 1858


  Kansas an anti slavery state
• 1854


  Kansas - Nebraska Act - opened up Nebraska and Kansas territories for settlement. Caused disturbance regarding whether they should be pro or anti slavery
• 1849


  California Gold rush - 90,000 miners by the end of 1849 (fortyniners)
• 1848


  US defeat Mexico in war and take land which will become California and Texas etc
• 1846-47


  Donner Party tragedy sees 41 die in Sierra Nevada mountains
• 1845


  Mormons leave Illinois
• 1842


  Pre-emption Act passed to encourage people to migrate west by offering up to 160 acres of land for $1.25 an acre
• 1838


  Mormons leave Missouri
• 1837


  Mormons leave Ohio
• 1837


  Economic Depression in East
• 5 May 1877


  Crazy Horse surrenders. The previous day Sitting Bull escaped to Canada.
• 4 July 1876


  News of the Battle of Little Bighorn reached America and stuns the nation. A retaliation is launched. Many bands surrendered.
• 25 June 1876


  Battle of Little Bighorn - Custer is killed.
• 1876


  All Sioux outside their reservation are declared as hostile. General Philip Sheridarn ordered a three pronged campaign against the Sioux.
• 1875

  1,000s of miners arrive in the Black Hills. Sioux are ordered to return to their reservation from hunting in Black Hills.
• 1871


  Indian Appropriations Act - Native Americans are dealt with on an individual basis.
• 1867


  Cheyenne Wars Medicine Lodge Treaty Ultimatum given Arapaho Cheyenne.
• 1866

  End of the American Civil War. Red Cloud's War- US soldiers under siege in forts. Leads to Fetterman Massacre.
• 1864


  Cheyenne Wars Fighting breaks out when US government tries to move Cheyenne onto their new reservation as part of Treaty of Fort Wise. Leads to Sand Creek Massacre
• 1863


  Little Crow's War- Remainder Santee Sioux are transferred to a new reservation, Crow Creek. 400 die in yhe first winter.
• 1862


  Little Crow's War - Fighting breaks out. 38 Santee Sioux were hanged. Red Cloud's War - gold is discovered in the Rocky Mountains.
• 1861


  Little Crows War - Cutworms devastated crops
• 1861


  Cheyenne Wars - Miners attacked by Plains Indians due to a break in the Fort Laramie Treaty. Treaty of Fort Wise signed - Plains Indians given a smaller reservation, with no hunting ground & expected to farm.