American west

• bands

  each tribe was made up of different bands, there could be several hundred people or just a few. For some tribes the bands came together frequently and people often moved between bands. Some bands had there own separate village
• what was the Sioux nation?

  One of the biggest nations. Made up of Lakota, Dakota and Nakota tribes
• what were the weather conditions like in the plains?

  The plains have very hot summer but very cold winters. In summer they were very dry and had very little surface water. The extreme heat also caused fires which could spread quickly from the wind
• What did hunting buffalo teach the plain Indians?

  Amazing horse riding and archery skills so they could ride against buffalo's and shooting them

  A travelling lifestyle, tipis to live in and travois to carry families belonging to the next camp

  Skills to use every part of the buffalo, food, clothing, shelter and ornaments etc.

  Deep respect for buffalo and others animals which they depended on.
• what did the plains Indians do in harsh winters?

  most tribes moved into lodges and a framework of strong logs were made and earth was piled on insulated living space. A fire pit was also made in the middle. The lodge were big enough for 60 people.
• How parts of the buffalo's has been used

  Horns - head dresses, spoons, power flasks, cups arrow straighteners

  Hooves - Glue, tools

  Fur - Blankets, mittens, saddle covers

  Bladder - Food bags

  Fat - soaps

  Tail - Fly whisks and ornaments

  Dung - fuel
• Why were horses important to the Indians?

  They were needed to hunt buffalo and to travel Across the plains in search for

  food.

  men measured there wealth in horses so they were significant for warfare and status.
• Which two solutions were used to cope with the tough climate conditions of the Great Plains?

  Lodges with a fire to get through the winter

  developed skills such as hunting buffalo for food and to make things
• What different skills did the chiefs have

  Good riding and archery skills

  travelling tipi’s to carry belongings

  preserving food in the sun instead of wasting them
• why did the white Americans think that the Indians did not deserve the land they lived on?

  They believed they weren't doing anything to improve the land, but they were just living off the resources that were produced naturally
• Why did the Americans think they deserved the land more?

  Because they were trying to improve it such as ploughing for farming, digging up minerals for manufacturing and clearing its forests for timbers and developing America into a civilised country
• What choice did the plains Indians have?

  That they either earn the land and make it productive or they move and let others farm it instead
• What approach did the federal government have to the indian problem?

  They kept white settlers and plain Indians apart

  They encouraged plains Indians to be more like the white settlers
• Why did the approach not work?

  It was very hard to follow both approaches at the same time since keeping plains Indians away from the white americans meant that they continued to follow their traditional ways of life instead of the white way
• How long was the oregon trail and where was the end destination?

  It was 3200km long and it started from the Missouri river and ended in willamette valley
• Why did the migrants have to finish The Oregon trail before the winter?


  because they would get stuck on the mountains and freeze to death
• at what time was it recommended to start the journey and survive on?

  Recommended that people start their journey in April and that most people eat salt pork to survive as it took a long time for it to rot
• what were advantages of using oxen for transport 


  Strong and obedient, able to live on the grass and sage bushes in the plains
• What were disadvantages of using oxen for transport

  Very slow (only 3km and hour) time was tight before the winter
• What are wagon trains and why were people travelling in groups?

  Wagon trains are made up of at least 20 wagons together. People travelled in groups because it was safer and people could each have different skills which would help on the journey
• What were the main problems of travelling on the trail?

  Getting stuck

  Falling ill

  Running out of supplies
• Why was cholera a problem?

  Everyone was using the same trail, campsites, and used rivers for drinking but also going to the toilet
• What did the travellers say about the plains Indians?

  Most diaries record no mention of conflict. The settlers fear led to calls for government protection for migrants
• Who were the donner party?

  A group of 300 migrants in 60 wagons who were led by the donner brothers. They started the Oregon trail in may 1846
• Why did the donner party split up in july?

  The group split at fort Bridger. Around 80 migrants including the donner brothers decided to try a new route which was expected to cut 550km off their journey, they wrote this in a guide book
• Why was the trail cut short?

  Because it was not marked out it was hard to follow. The terrain was rugged and rocky, which was hard for the wagons to get through along with steep slopes and deep canyons. They had to find another way over the river and most of the journey was desert with no water or livestock
• What did the group argue about?

  some wanted to keep going, some wanted to go back.
• What happened to the donner party?

  They got stuck in the mountains and ran out of food + water supplies. The first person died from starvation on December 15th
• Who were the Mormons?

  A religious group that are not liked because of they're beliefs, such as polygamy
• what happened to them in 1845 and who was Brigham young?

  They were ordered to leave Illinois after rioters murdered their leader Joseph smith. Brigham was their new leader and he believed that god had called on them to migrate to salt lake valley and build a settlement
• why did the Mormons have to move in feb 1846 rather than wait until spring?

  They were forced to move because of hostility in Illinois. It was bitterly cold and the families suffered badly which meant they could only travel slowly
• what happened in 1847 and what does this group do?

  A small party of mormons set off for salt lake. They were well preapared with food and supplies. They marked out the most suitable route (advanced party) and cleared it. The advance party got there before the mormons
• What does youngs group enable other mormons to do and how many people follow it?

  70,000 mormons followed the mormon trail that was marked out so they could arrive there more quickly.
• what was the problem with salt lake valley as a settlement?

  it was a harsh and arid landscape. The lake was salty and the lands surrounding it were too poor to grow crops on.
• Why did young help make salt lake valley a success?

  The mormons worked together to make a plan. The church owned all of the land, everyone would work together for the good of the community. They built irrigation systems from fresh water systems so they can have water to grow crops.
• How did young divide the land?

  The church owned all the land which meant no individual owned anything
• How were settlements planned?

  Each one was designed to produce particular products. Young sent out people with certain skills that each settlement needed and each one had a leader that had authority over everything
• How did the settlements grow but also keep salt lake valley successful?

  They spread out into more areas that were reliable and products such as foods were bought to the lake (founded by young)
• What were farming conditions like in california and oregon?

  Farming conditions were good, and gold miners found out that california's mild climate and fertile soils were excellent for growing spring wheat
• one example of how successful farming was becoming

  They were producing so much wheat that california began exporting grain to europe. There was lots of money to be made and farming was becoming a business