1. Knowledge Organiser: The American West 1835 - 1895
KT3: Conflicts and Conquest
Conflicts and Conquest: 1
Changes in farming (new machinery/ techniques) means survival on the Plains is much easier for the Homesteaders. In addition, the Exoduster Movement and the Oklahoma Land Rush means that the number of homesteaders rapidly increases. This leads to conflict between homesteaders and ranchers in the form of Range Wars. Meanwhile, US Govt attempt to move the Indians into reservations which leads to several wars and ultimately destroys their way of life.
Key events 2
1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn 3
The Great Sioux War 4
1878 Lincoln County War 5
1879 Exoduster Movement 6
1881 Gunfight at the OK Corral 7
1883 Destruction of northern buffalo herd completed 8
1885 All Plains Indians confined to reservations 9
Harsh Winter 10
1887 Dawes Act 11
1890 Wounded Knee Massacre 12
1890 Indian Frontier is closed 13
1892 Johnson County War 14
1893 Oklahoma Land Rush
Key Concepts 15
Changes in Farming – Technology such as barbed wire, the sod buster plough and windmills became readily available and cheaper. The result was that more of the land could now be farmed and survival for the homesteaders was much easier and many prospered. 16
Changes in Cattle Industry – Demand for beef declines and then cattle barons were greatly impacted by the Harsh Winter of and many went bankrupt. This led to the end of the open range and smaller ranchers were more successful. This led to changes in the previously ‘wild’ life of a cowboy. 17
Range Wars– On the whole, the problem of law and order improves but range wars and town conflicts such as Lincoln County War, Gunfight at OK Corral and the Johnson County war prove that lawlessness still exists as many law enforcement officers were ex-criminals. 18
Plains Indians – After short term success at Bighorn, the Plains Indians eventually surrender and are confined to reservations. Their way of life is destroyed and the buffalo are exterminated. It leads to the closure of the frontier.
402241 19
Dry Farming
An experimental farming technique that aimed to conserve water in the soil. 20
Wind Pump
A machine used to pump water from underground. 21
Mechanisation
The process of changing from working by hand or with animals to the use of machines. 22
Overstocked
The situation when too many livestock animals are relying on the same area of pasture: the grass gets eaten up, the soil erodes and animals weaken due to hunger. 23
Sharecropping
When a landowner allows a tenant to use some of their land in return for a share of the crops they grow. 24
Ku Klux Klan
A racist organisation of terrorists who intimidated and used violence against Black Americans 25
Outlaw
A person who has broken the law, especially one who remains at large or is a fugitive 26
Corral
An enclosure for cattle and horses. 27
Assimilate
To become like something else: for the Plains Indians, it meant becoming US citizens and rejecting all their old culture, beliefs and ways of life.