U.S. History Vocab

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Plain Indians War: Tension between settlers and U.S. Army led to the Indian Wars (1864-1876), ending at Wounded Knee.

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Tension between plains Indians settlers and the U.S. army grew into a long period of violence known as the Indian Wars 1864-1876. Ended at the massacre of Wounded Knee.

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Assimilation

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Blending in with the established culture. Native Americans.

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Exodusters

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African Americans who moved to Kansas, believing land was set aside for slaves by the government in the 1870s.

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Dawes Act

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Legislation passed by Congress that divided Indian reservation lands among individuals and promised them citizenship in 1887.

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Ghost Dance

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Expression of grief over the loss of Native American ways of life; a special dance to communicate with the dead.

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Reservations

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Land set aside for Native Americans by the U.S. government.

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Boom towns

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A town that has rapidly grown due to sudden prosperity from gold and silver mining.

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Homestead Act

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A law to encourage westward settlement by offering 160 acres of government land to small farmers for $1.00 per acre, requiring improvements and residence for 5 years.

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Open Range: Large grazing land without fences, from Texas to Canada.

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Large area of grazing land without fences or barriers. Prairies of the mid west. Stretched from Texas to Canada.

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Transcontinental Railroad

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Railroad that crossed the country, built by Union Pacific and Central Pacific in Promontory, Utah, 1869.