APUSH 1860-1895 – Flashcards

This bill did much to encourage settlers to move west; 160 acres of land were given to any settler who was an American citizen or who had applied for citizenship, who was committed to farming the land for six months of the year, and who could pay the $10 registration fee for the land.

This battle was the last large-scale attempt by Native Americans to resist American settlement in the Great Plains region. Federal soldiers opened fire on Native Americans, killing more than 200.

This act was designed to break up Native-American tribes by offering individual Native Americans land to be used for either farming or grazing.

Organizations that united farmers at the statewide and regional level; policy goals of this organization included more readily available farm credits and federal regulation of the railroads.

Formed in 1892 by members of the Farmers' Alliances, this party was designed to appeal to workers in all parts of the country. They favored a larger role of government in American society, a progressive income tax, and more direct methods of democracy.

1893 thesis by Frederick Jackson Turner suggesting that the innovations practiced by western settlers gradually became ingrained into the fabric of American society; democracy and self-improvement were also central to western expansion, Turner claimed. In short, he suggested that many of the characteristics of the "American character" were created by westward expansion.

Large mining syndicate typical of many companies involved in mining in the western US in the 1860s and 1870s; used heavy machinery and professional engineers. Many prospectors who found gold, silver, or copper sold their claims to companies such as this.

Large farms that came to dominate agricultural life in much of the West in the late 1800s; instead of plots farmed by yeoman farmers, large amounts of machinery were used, and workers were hired laborers, often performing only specific tasks.

Large number of Southern blacks who left the South and moved to Kansas for a 'better life' after Reconstruction ended in 1877; many failed to find satisfaction in Kansas because of a lack of opportunities and open hostility from Kansas residents.

Economic system that based all currency on gold, meaning that all paper currency could be exchanged at a bank for gold. Business interests of the late nineteenth century supported this; William Jennings Bryan ran for president three times opposing this, and supported the free coinage of silver instead.

Initially formed in 1867, this was an association of farmers that provided social activities and information about new farming techniques. Some local organizations became involved in cooperative buying and selling.

Political party of the 1870s and early 1880s that stated the government should put more money in circulation and supported an eight-hour workday and female suffrage. The party received support from farmers but never built a national base. This party argued into the 1880s that more greenbacks should be put in circulation to help farmers who were in debt and who saw the prices of their products decreasing annually.

Passed in 1887, the bill created America's first regulatory commission, the Interstate Commerce Commission. The task of this commission was to regulate the railroad and railroad rates, and to ensure that rates were 'reasonable and just.'

1862 federal act designed to fund state "land-grant" colleges. State governments were given large amounts of land in the western territories; this land was sold to individual settlers, land speculators, and others, and the profits of these land sales could be used to establish the colleges.

Platform of the Farmer's Alliance, formulated at an 1890 convention held in Ocala, Florida. This farm's organization favored a graduated income tax, government control of the railroad, the unlimited coinage of silver, and the direct election of US senators. Candidates supporting the farmers called themselves Populists and ran for public offices in the 1890s.

Party that represented the farmers that scored major electoral victories in the 1890s, including the election of several members of the US House of Representatives and the election of one US senator. Populist candidates spoke against monopolies, wanted government to become 'more democratic,' and wanted more direct government action to help the working classes.

1890 congressional legislation designed to break up industrial trusts such as the one created by J.D. Rockefeller and the Standard Oil. The bill stated that any combination of businesses that was 'in the restraint of trade' was illegal. Because of the vagueness of the legislation and the lack of enforcement tools in the hands of the federal government, few trusts were actually prosecuted as a result of this bill.

1878 bill that allowed private citizens to purchase forest territory in Oregon, Washington, California, and Nevada. Although the intent of the bill was to encourage settlement in these areas, lumber companies purchased large amounts of these land claims from the individuals who had originally purchased them.