Westward Expansion

Used to fence in land on the Great Plains, eventually leading to the end of the open frontier.

fast-growing town, usually located near where gold or silver has been discovered

Nickname for African-American soldiers who fought in the wars against Native Americans living on the Great Plains during the 1870s

Cattle handlers who drove large herds across the southern Great Plains. The era of the cowboy lasted from 1870 to the late 1880s.

1887 law that distributed reservation land to individual Native American owners

The line separating areas of denser settlement from 'unsettled' territory

Rolling, treeless plains that stretched from Texas to North Dakota

1862 - Provided free land in the West to anyone willing to settle there and develop it. Encouraged westward migration.

Term used to describe the several conflicts with Indians during the 1860s and 1870s as Americans began to encroach upon the Indian owned land instead of just passing through it on their way west.

Area where the last major battle (Battle of the Little Big Horn) between the Union and the native americans took place. The Sioux Indians, led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, massacred the U.S. 7th Cavalry led by General Custer. Also known as Custer's Last Stand.

A vast area of grassland owned by the government where ranchers could graze their herds for free

The push factor involves a force which acts to drive people away from a place and the pull factor is what draws them to a new location.

land set aside by the United States government for Native Americans

1864 attack in which as many as 200 Cheyenne were killed by the Colorado militia

Major northern Plains Indian nation that fought and eventually lost a bitter war against the U.S. Army 1876-1877