Railroads vs Native Americans USH-4.1

I. Spreading out Railroads impacted tension that caused the Civil War KS-NE Act traded popular sovereignty for a northern route for the transcontinental RR Congress could vote however they wanted during the Civil War No Southerners were there to vote against a northern route

I. Spreading out Pacific Railway Act of 1862 Gave land grants to build the railroad Provided a route and land to sell to make money to afford building The Transcontinental Railroad was completed at Promontory Point, Utah in 1869

I. Spreading out Homestead Act For $18 and a 5 year promise to farm, settlers got land RR gave farmers access to Eastern markets RR gave industry access to Western resources

II. Native Americans Buffalo herds could easily damage RR RR companies encouraged the killing of the buffalo Plains Indians followed the herds and could no longer sustain themselves

II. Native Americans Whites wanted cheap western land w/market access thru the RR Native Americans were forced to sign bad treaties Smaller reservations Taken advantage of by Indian Agents sent to help them Some NAs resist and are pursued by the US Cavalry Others are pushed out b/c their land has precious minerals

II. Native Americans Dawes Severalty Act The assimilation of NA into American society Tribal lands were turned into farms Had always been tribal ownership not private Never been farmers Children were taken and sent to boarding schools Taught English How to dress and act American

II. Native Americans Many Native Americans attempt to bring back traditions Ghost Dance was a religious dance Army didn’t like it Massacre at Wounded Knee Lakota Sioux were being forced to give up weapons at Wounded Knee Fight ensues 153 dead Sioux, mostly women and kids