Transcontinental railroad
was a railroad line that was built by Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroad companies. It went from Iowa to California.
Great American Desert
the western part of the Great Plains, east of the Rocky Mountains.
Dry Farming
farming of dry lands without irrigation by using mulch that kept the soil moist and made it easier to grow crops.
Helen Hunt Jackson
wrote "A Century of Dishonor". Was an activist on behalf of improvement of the treatment of the Native Americans.
Ghost Dance
a religious movement in the Native American culture. People tried to reunite spirits by dancing in order to bring peace and prosperity to their tribes and families. It spread like a wild fire throughout the Native American tribes, and was thought to contr
Standard Oil
the first big oil producing, transporting and refining company created in 1870 by Rockefeller.
Homestead Act
governmental grant of 160 acres for each person who moves to the West, settles it and makes use of the land.
Comstock Lode
it was the first major discovery of silver ore in Nevada.
Sod House
a house made of soil in the new settled West, because there was no trees or wood.
Sitting Bull
Native American tribal chief of the Lakota People, who resisted the white invasion, and was killed by the Indian Agency police because he supported the Ghost Dance movement.
Battle of Wounded Knee
five hundred troops of the United States Army surrounded the Lakota people and tried to get them to the railroad and transport them to Omaha.
John Rockefeller
an American industrialist who founded Standard Oil, that was the first dominant business trust.
New South
the South after the Civil War. It used to describe the ex-Confederacy less reliant on slavery and was more industrialized.
Cattle Frontier
moving of the cows and cattle from the wild plains towards the railroad by cowboys.
Laisser-faire
economic environment in which the government does not interfere with private business affair.
Dawes Act 1887
The government tried to make Native Americans more Americanized, and make them abandon their beliefs, thus they would get a large amount of land each.
Sand Creek Massacre
while black kettle was trying to surrender Chivingtons men slaughtered between 150 and 500 people- largely women and children.
J. P. Morgan
an American businessman and banker who founded General Electric and funded Federal Steel Company.
Crazy Horse
a war leader of the Lakota people, who fought against the invasion of the American troops. Was wounded when trying to protect his people from the attack.