Westward Expansion: SOCIAL & CULTURAL Development [APUSH Review Unit 6 Topic 3] Period 6: 1865-1898

Summary

This video from Heimler's History delves into the societal and cultural aspects of westward migration in the United States following the Civil War. It explores the impact of the Homestead Act and transcontinental railroads on encouraging westward movement, leading to the settlement of the American frontier by the end of the 19th century. The video discusses the transformation of the Great Plains with the arrival of cattle and the rise of the cowboy culture, which was eventually curtailed by the spread of barbed wire fencing. It also touches on the challenges faced by homesteaders, many of whom did not receive free land as commonly believed. The lecture highlights the consolidation of land into larger agri-businesses due to agricultural mechanization. The significance of the closing of the frontier is examined through Frederick Jackson Turner's essay, which posited that the frontier's closure could lead to increased class conflicts. The video also addresses the plight of Native Americans, the establishment of reservations, and the federal government's attempts to assimilate them into white society, including the devastating effects of the Dawes Act of 1887. It concludes with the Ghost Dance Movement and the tragic events at Wounded Knee, marking the end of Native American resistance.

Takeaways

• 🏞️ The westward migration after the Civil War was driven by the American custom of seeking self-sufficiency and independence.
• 🚂 The completion of transcontinental railroads and the Homestead Act were key factors encouraging westward migration.
• 🐂 Cattle drives were a significant part of the American West's economy, leading to the romanticized image of the cowboy.
• 🔗 The introduction of barbed wire ended the era of open cattle drives, as homesteaders began to claim and fence land.
• 🏡 'Sodbusters' were early settlers who cut through the soil with their plows, and many acquired land through purchases from railroad companies.
• 📉 The mechanization of agriculture led to the consolidation of land into larger agri-businesses, which negatively impacted small farms.
• 📜 The U.S. Census Bureau declared the frontier officially settled in 1890, following the Oklahoma Territory's opening for settlement.
• 🤔 Fredrick Jackson Turner's essay highlighted concerns about the closure of the frontier, suggesting it would lead to class conflicts and loss of a safety valve for American discontent.
• 🏡 The reservation system was developed to confine Native American populations, disrupting their traditional ways of life.
• 🔫 The Dawes Act of 1887 aimed to assimilate Native Americans by dividing reservation lands into individual plots and offering citizenship in exchange for assimilation.
• 👻 The Ghost Dance Movement was a spiritual and cultural resistance to the pressures of assimilation, which culminated in the tragic massacre at Wounded Knee.

Q & A

What was the main focus of the video regarding westward migration after the Civil War?

The main focus of the video was on the society and culture of those who settled the frontier after the Civil War.

What question does the video attempt to answer regarding the settlement of the West from 1877 to 1898?

The video attempts to answer what the causes and effects of the settlement of the West were during that period.

What were the two factors that encouraged westward migration after the Civil War?

The two factors that encouraged westward migration were the Homestead Act and the completion of various transcontinental railroads.

How did the arrival of settlers and the use of barbed wire fencing impact the cowboy lifestyle?

The arrival of settlers and the use of barbed wire fencing ended the days of open cattle drives, which significantly impacted the cowboy lifestyle.

What was the term used to describe the homesteaders who were among the first to cut through the soil with their plows?

The term used to describe these homesteaders was 'sodbusters'.

What was the impact of increasing mechanization of agriculture on small farms?

The increasing mechanization of agriculture led to many small farms folding, and the land was consolidated into the hands of larger agri-business outfits.

What did Fredrick Jackson Turner argue about the closing of the frontier in his essay?

Fredrick Jackson Turner argued that the closing of the frontier was a cause for concern, as westward expansion had been a means of releasing American discontent and was a democratizing force.

How did the federal government attempt to solve the 'Indian problem' after the transcontinental railroad facilitated mass migration west?

The federal government attempted to solve the 'Indian problem' by developing the reservation system, assigning Indian populations to live on tracts of land with strict boundaries.

What was the impact of the Indian Appropriation Act of 1871 on Indian nations?

The Indian Appropriation Act of 1871 ended federal recognition of the sovereignty of Indian nations and nullified all previous treaties made with them.

What was the main objective of the Dawes Act of 1887?

The main objective of the Dawes Act of 1887 was to abandon the reservation system and divide reservation lands into 160 acre plots to be farmed by the Indians, with the condition that they assimilated to American culture to become American citizens.

What was the significance of the Ghost Dance Movement in the context of Indian resistance?

The Ghost Dance Movement was a significant resistance movement where Indians believed that participating in the ritualistic dance would bring back the ghosts of their ancestors to drive the white man from their lands.

What event marked the effective end of the period of Indian resistance?

The last violent battle of the Indian Wars, which took place at Wounded Knee in South Dakota in 1890, marked the effective end of the period of Indian resistance.