barbed wire
invention that allowed farmers to fence their lands
cheaply and keep out cattle drives from trampling
crops
Battle of Little Bighorn
1876 Battle between Native Americans and U.S armed forces that took place near the Little
Bighorn River. Native Americans defeated Custer's troops. Custer and his entire force were killed.
Also known as "Custer's Last Stand". This battle was significant because it convinced the United
States government to take stronger action against the Lakotas and other Native American
groups.
Battle of Wounded Knee
last major battle between the U.S.
and Native Americans
Buffalo Soldiers
nickname for African-American soldiers who fought
in the Indian and Spanish American Wars
cattle drives
how cowboys moved huge herds of cattle from ranches in Texas to
railroads in the late 1800s
*very profitable because the cattle could be sold for more money in
the East
Central Pacific Railroad
western side of the first transcontinental railroad
*workers were Chinese Coolies who worked for less
money and in more dangerous conditions
cowboys
men who rounded up, branded, and drove cattle to the railroads
*mostly made up of African American and Mexican/Hispanic
minority groups
Exodusters
former slaves who went west to start
farms
Great White Fleet of Ships
large group of ships sent around the world to show
our military strength and intimidate other countries
Homestead Act of 1862
encouraged farming on the Great Plains to feed our growing nation
*offered 160 acres of public land free to any family that settled on it
for a period of five years
Panama Canal
United States built this passage in 1915 to shorten the
trip between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans for trade
and our military
Remember the Maine
example of yellow journalism because U.S. newspapers
exaggerated what happened to the Maine (U.S. battleship) in order
to sell papers and get people to want to go to war
reservations
areas of land that U.S. citizens RESERVED (saved) for Native Americans to
live on, usually poor quality land
*U.S. citizens forced Native Americans to move here because they wanted to
farm the Native American's land and use the natural resources
Rough Riders
group of volunteer soldiers that included cowboys,
wealthy New Yorkers, and college students who
fought in Cuba and Puerto Rico
Seward's Folly
Secretary of State William Seward's negotiation of the purchase of Alaska
from Russia in 1867
*At the time, some people thought it was foolish to buy frozen, useless land.
However, it turned out to be the biggest bargain since the Louisiana purchase.
Spanish-American War
1898 Conflict between Spain and America
*called the "splendid little war" because it lasted less than 4
months, had few Americans die, and U.S. won strategic lands
Time Zone Map
map that shows the world or region's
time zones
Transcontinental Railroad
innovation that allowed people and goods
to travel across the country in just a week
Westward Expansion
movement to settle in the west