Westward expansion

US History – Myths of the Cowboy

Use these links to create a chart of myth’s or stereotypes about cowboy culture and the realities of that myth or stereotype.

The Texas Cowboy Myth and Reality

Myth and the American Cowboy

 

 

Massacre at Wounded Knee

Follow the link below to look through a photo album of the Massacre at Wounded Knee. Select 3 photos and answer the following for each.

1.  Describe what is shown in the photo.

2. Why did you choose this photo? What about it stood out to you over the others?

3.  The Massacre at Wounded Knee symbolizes the end of the era of conflict with Native Americans.  It is said that in some ways this tragic event represents the era as a whole.  Do you agree or disagree with this?  Explain.

Photos of Wounded Knee

Watch this short video on the Massacre at Wounded Knee (10 minutes).

The Darkest Hour:  Massacre at Wounded Knee

 The Ghost Dance   

Follow the link below to read an article about the Ghost Dance and answer the following questions.

Ghost Dance article

1. What is the Ghost Dance?

2. Who brought this ritual to the Plains Indian people? What was he claiming to be or have for them?

3. What was believed the ceremonal dance would could do?

4. What did the Ghost Dance do for the remaining tribes on the Plains?

5. Why did the Ghost Dance scare US Government officials?

6. Where is the first and only exhibit of Ghost Dance clothing and dresses located?

7. Indians who have visited the exhibit claim it to have spirtual power? Why?

8. Is the Ghost Dance still performed today? Why?

The link below will take you to an interesting article on Sioux Religion.

Sioux Religion

 

“A Good Day To Die” (The Battle of Little Bighorn)   

Below is an excellent and short documentary on the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Assimilation of the American Indian   

      Use the link below and view the web site on Indian Boarding Schools to answer the following questions. Put your answers on notebook paper.

Photos of Indian Boarding Schools

1. Navigate the web site, viewing all photos shown. Choose one photograph that stood out to you the most and comment on it. What is it a picture of? Why did it “stand out” to you? What is the “mood” of the picture?

2. What negative effects might occur as a result of what you are seeing?

3. What positive effects might occur as a result of what you are seeing?

4. How do you think the people in the pictures feel about Assimilation? Explain.

5. List as many specific examples of assimilation as you can see in the photos on this web page.

 

APUSH – Western Folkways   

The link below will take you to an excellent website with outlined information about American history and the Western Frontier.  Use this outline to answer the questions below over Mining, Ranching, Farming, and the Populist Movement in the West.

Western Folkways

 

 Use the website outline below to answer the following questions about the settling of the West

 

http://www.ushistory.org/us/41.asp

 

1.       With the removal of Native Americans the west was open for further settlement without conflict.  In what various ways did the typical westerner make a living? 

2.       What were the most numerous of western pioneers seeking?

3.       Why did locations such as COEUR D'ALENE in Idaho to TOMBSTONE in Arizona, become “boom towns”?

4.       Where was the largest and most profitable silver strike in the United States located?

5.       It was perceived that anyone could “strike it rich” in the west, but in reality who profited the most prospecting for gold, silver, copper, etc.?

6.       What effect did Western mining have on the environment of the west?

7.       Briefly describe life in western mining towns.

8.       Explain the social hierarchy of these western mining towns.

9.       What led to “Ghost Towns”?

10.   Why was Joseph McCoy important to the boom of the cattle industry?

11.   Briefly explain the real life of a cowboy?

12.   What dangers did a cowboys face?

13.   What factors contributed to the end of the open frontier in the west?

14.   What caused crop prices to fall dramatically in the late 1800s for farmers?

15.   Why were many farmers stuck in debt in the late 1800s?

16.   What other factors contributed to the “plight” of the farmer in the late 1800s?

17.   Who were the “Grangers”?

18.   How did farmers in the west “fight back” in the late 1800s?

19.   Why did the farmers want inflation? 

20.   What did farmers suggest be done to create inflation?

21.   Who were the populists?  What were their demands?

22.   Who was the populist candidate in the 1892 election?  How did they do?

23.   Who was William Jennings Bryan?

24.   Why was he called the “boy orator”?

25.   Who won the Presidential election of 1896?  Who most contributed to his campaign?

26.   What is the legacy of the Populists?