Glossary
Assimilation Policies
U.S. government strategies aimed at forcing Native Americans to abandon their traditional cultures and adopt white American customs, language, and lifestyles.
Example:
Through initiatives like boarding schools, Assimilation Policies sought to 'civilize' Native American children by stripping them of their cultural identity.
Battle of Little Bighorn (1876)
A significant Native American victory where Sioux and Cheyenne warriors, led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, annihilated Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer's forces.
Example:
Often called 'Custer's Last Stand,' the Battle of Little Bighorn was a temporary triumph for Native American resistance but ultimately intensified calls for their subjugation.
Closing of the Frontier (1890)
The declaration by the U.S. Census Bureau that a continuous frontier line, where unsettled land was available for expansion, no longer existed.
Example:
The official Closing of the Frontier in 1890 marked a symbolic end to the era of westward expansion and prompted reflections on American identity and future growth.
Concentration Policy (1851)
A shift in U.S. Native American policy that defined specific reservation boundaries for each tribe, forcing relocation to clear land for white settlement.
Example:
The Concentration Policy led to the forced removal of many tribes from their ancestral lands, consolidating them into smaller, designated areas.
Dawes Act (1887)
Legislation that broke up tribal lands into individual allotments, aiming to encourage Native American farming and private property ownership while also opening up surplus land for white settlement.
Example:
The Dawes Act drastically reduced Native American landholdings and undermined tribal sovereignty, leading to significant cultural and economic disruption.
Farmers' Alliances
Successor organizations to the Grange, these groups were more politically active and widespread, advocating for government regulation of railroads and banks, and eventually leading to the Populist Party.
Example:
The Farmers' Alliances built on the Grange's efforts, organizing millions of farmers and pushing for more radical economic reforms.
Ghost Dance Movement
A late 19th-century religious movement among Native Americans that promised the return of their lands, the disappearance of white settlers, and the restoration of their traditional way of life.
Example:
The spiritual hope offered by the Ghost Dance Movement spread rapidly among tribes, providing a powerful, albeit ultimately tragic, form of cultural resistance.
Grange Movements
Early farmer organizations, officially known as the Patrons of Husbandry, that initially focused on social and educational activities but evolved into advocating for farmers' economic and political interests.
Example:
Farmers joined Grange Movements to collectively address issues like high railroad rates and the monopolistic practices of grain elevator operators.
Homestead Act
A federal law passed in 1862 that offered 160 acres of free land to settlers who agreed to live on and improve the land for five years.
Example:
Many families, eager for a new start, moved west to claim land under the Homestead Act, transforming vast prairies into farms.
Indian Intercourse Act of 1834
Legislation that designated the Great Plains as 'Indian Country' and restricted white access to these lands, initially aiming to separate Native American and white populations.
Example:
Before the Civil War, the Indian Intercourse Act of 1834 attempted to create a clear boundary, but westward expansion pressures soon eroded its effectiveness.
Interstate Commerce Act (1887)
The first federal law designed to regulate the railroad industry, establishing the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to ensure fair rates and prevent discriminatory practices.
Example:
The Interstate Commerce Act was a significant step towards federal regulation of big business, though its initial enforcement powers were limited.
Munn v. Illinois (1877)
A Supreme Court case that upheld the right of states to regulate private industries, such as railroads and grain elevators, when they served the public interest.
Example:
Munn v. Illinois was a landmark decision that affirmed the principle of government regulation over private businesses, particularly those deemed public utilities.
Populist Party
A political party formed in the 1890s, primarily by farmers and laborers, advocating for reforms such as bimetallism, direct election of senators, and government ownership of railroads.
Example:
Emerging from the Farmers' Alliances, the Populist Party represented a powerful challenge to the established political and economic order, championing the common person.
Sand Creek Massacre (1864)
A brutal attack by Colorado militia on a peaceful camp of Cheyenne and Arapaho Native Americans, resulting in the murder of unarmed men, women, and children.
Example:
The horrific violence of the Sand Creek Massacre stands as a stark reminder of the atrocities committed against Native Americans during westward expansion.
Wounded Knee Massacre (1890)
The tragic culmination of the U.S. government's efforts to suppress the Ghost Dance, where the U.S. Army killed approximately 200 unarmed Lakota men, women, and children.
Example:
The Wounded Knee Massacre marked the symbolic end of major armed Native American resistance to U.S. expansion and assimilation policies.