1. Knowledge Organiser: The American West 1835 - 1895
KT2: Development of the Plains
The Early Settlement of the West 1
To encourage migration West, the Homestead Act and the Pacific Railroad Act are passed resulting in the Transcontinental Railway being built making migration easier. Meanwhile, the demand for beef explodes leading to an increase in cattle drives and eventually the introduction of cattle ranching on the Plains. Cow towns create problems with law and order and there is conflict between ranchers and homesteaders. Meanwhile, conflict between Indians and US Govt increases as all of these changes lead to changes in the lives of the Plains Indians who are moved to reservations by force.
Key events 2
1862 Homestead Act passed 3
1862 Pacific Railway Act passed 4
1862 Little Crow’s War 5
1864 Sand Creek Massacre 6
The Cheyenne Wars 7
1865 Civil War ends 8
Red Cloud’s War 9
1867 – Cattle drives to railroad towns begin 10
1868 Fort Laramie Treaty signed 11
1868 President Grant’s ‘Peace Policy’ 12
1871 Indian Appropriations Act signed 13
1873 Timber Culture Act 14
1874 Barbed wire invented
Key Concepts 15
Increased Migration and Settlement – The US Govt encourage settlement in the West after the Civil War ends by passing laws such as the Homestead Act and the Pacific Railroad Act They want families to settle there, as opposed to rich land owners. 16
Treatment of Plains Indians– US Government are seen to go back on the terms of Fort Laramie Treaty. They allow prospectors to settle on Indian land and move Indians to reservations. They even break their promises to supply the Indians with food. As a result, there are a number of wars in this period. 17
Cattle Ranching and Law and Order– The beef bonanza leads to the introduction of cattle ranching on Plains. There is conflict between ranchers and homesteaders and cowboys have a reputation for being lawless 18
Changes to Indians– Changes lead to Indians being forced on to reservations and becoming dependent on the help of US Govt as the buffalo herds decline and the land to which they are entitled decreases.
Key Words 19
Civil War
a war fought within a country. The US Civil war was fought between sides with pro-slavery and anti-slavery views. 20
Militia
a military force that is raised from the civil population to supplement a regular army in an emergency. 21
Confederate
a pro-slavery soldier, based predominately in the South 22
Unionist
an anti-slavery soldier, based predominately in the North 23
Transcontinental
(especially of a railway line), crossing a continent 24
Freight
goods transported in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft 25
Barbed wire
wire with clusters of short, sharp spikes set at short intervals along it, used to make fences or in warfare as an obstruction 26
Sulky Plow
A ride-on steel plough that made ploughing tough prairie land much easier. 27
Outlaw
a person who has broken the law, especially one who remains at large or is a fugitive. 28
Long Drive
herding cattle (or other animals) over long distances 29
Cattle Trail
Routes used for driving cattle: these needed to have access to both grass and water. 30
Ranch
A large farm for breeding and keeping cattle, rather than for crops. 31
Rustler
An animal thief 32
Open Range
A large area of unfenced land over which livestock roamed freely. 33
Ranch War
Violent conflict between ranchers and homesteaders 34
Reservation
An area of land ‘reserved’ for use by American Indians and managed by the Federal Government. 35
Total War
US Army adopted policy of Total War which meant waging war against whole Indian population, not just individual tribes.

2. Knowledge Organiser: The American West 1835 - 1895
KT2: Development of the Plains
The Early Settlement of the West 1
To encourage migration West, the Homestead Act and the Pacific Railroad Act are passed resulting in the Transcontinental Railway being built making migration easier. Meanwhile, the demand for beef explodes leading to an increase in cattle drives and eventually the introduction of cattle ranching on the Plains. Cow towns create problems with law and order and there is conflict between ranchers and homesteaders. Meanwhile, conflict between Indians and US Govt increases as all of these changes lead to changes in the lives of the Plains Indians who are moved to reservations by force.
Key events 2
1862 Homestead Act passed 3
1862 _________ Railway Act passed 4
1862 Little Crow’s War 5
1864 _________Massacre 6
The Cheyenne Wars 7
1865 Civil War ends 8
Red Cloud’s War 9
1867 – Cattle drives to railroad towns begin 10
1868 _________Treaty signed 11
1868 President Grant’s ‘_________’ 12
1871 Indian Appropriations Act signed 13
1873 Timber Culture Act 14
1874 Barbed wire invented
Key Concepts 15
Increased Migration and Settlement – The US Govt encourage settlement in the West after the Civil War ends by passing laws such as the Homestead Act and the Pacific Railroad Act They want families to settle there, as opposed to rich land owners. 16
Treatment of Plains Indians– US Government are seen to go back on the terms of Fort Laramie Treaty. They allow prospectors to settle on Indian land and move Indians to reservations. They even break their promises to supply the Indians with food. As a result, there are a number of wars in this period. 17
Cattle Ranching and Law and Order– The beef bonanza leads to the introduction of cattle ranching on Plains. There is conflict between ranchers and homesteaders and cowboys have a reputation for being lawless 18
Changes to Indians– Changes lead to Indians being forced on to reservations and becoming dependent on the help of US Govt as the buffalo herds decline and the land to which they are entitled decreases.
Key Words 19
Civil War
a war fought within a country. The US Civil war was fought between sides with pro-slavery and anti-slavery views. 20
Militia
a military force that is raised from the civil population to supplement a regular army in an emergency. 21
Confederate
a ________ soldier, based predominately in the South 22
Unionist
an anti-slavery soldier, based predominately in the North 23
Transcontinental
(especially of a railway line), crossing a _________ 24
Freight
goods transported in bulk by truck, train, ship, or aircraft 25
Barbed wire
wire with clusters of short, sharp spikes set at short intervals along it, used to make fences or in warfare as an obstruction 26
Sulky Plow
A ride-on steel plough that made ploughing tough prairie land much easier. 27
Outlaw
a person who has broken the law, especially one who remains at large or is a fugitive. 28
Long Drive
herding cattle (or other animals) over long distances 29
Cattle Trail
Routes used for driving cattle: these needed to have access to both grass and water. 30
Ranch
A large farm for breeding and keeping cattle, rather than for crops. 31
Rustler
An animal _______ 32
Open Range
A large area of ________ land over which livestock roamed freely. 33
Ranch War
Violent conflict between ranchers and ______________ 34
Reservation
An area of land ‘reserved’ for use by American Indians and managed by the Federal Government. 35
Total War
US Army adopted policy of Total War which meant waging war against whole Indian population, not just individual ___________.