Promontory Point, Utah The location where the Central and Union railroad companies connected to for the Transcontinental Railroad

Towns created along the Railway system across the country for the purpose of cattle sales. These towns were the end of the road for cattle drives. Here the cattle board trains to the meat markets of the big cities to the east.

Exodusters African Americans who settled western lands in the late 1800’s

Sodbusters The name given to the plains farmers who worked hard to bust up the regions tough ground

Wounded Knee The last major incident on the Great Plains between the US Army and Native Americans. In 1890 150 Sioux natives were massacred by US troops along this Wounded Knee Creek.

Little Big Horn AKA: Custer’s Last Stand Sioux Indians led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull defeated General Custer and his entire command. Custer’s horse Comanche, was the only survivor.

Frontier An undeveloped area.

Cattle Kingdom A long journey on which cowboys herded cattle to northern markets or better grazing lands.

Chisholm Trail A trail that ran from San Antonio, Texas to Abilene, Kansas, established by Jesse Chishelm in the late 1860’s for cattle drives.

Pony Express A system of messengers that carried mail between relay stations on a route 2,000-miles long in 1860 and 1861

Transcontinental Railroad A railroad system that crossed the continental United States, construction began in 1863.

Reservation Federal lands set aside for American Indians. GET OFF MY LAND!!!!

Dawes Allotment Act Legislation passed by congress that split up Indian reservation lands among individual Indians and promised them citizenship.

Ghost Dance A religious movement among Native Americans that spread across the plains in the 1880’s.

Homestead Act A law passed by congress to encourage, settlement in the west by giving government-owned land to small farmers.

Buffalo Soldiers African American soldiers who served in the cavalry during the wars for the west.