The End Of The 19th Century - 2247 Words

With the end of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century came a lot of change for the U. S. with the coming about of railroads and electricity, the U.S. was undergoing a profound economic revolution and as the economy grew, U.S. territory would also experience great expansion into the west, Latin America and Asia. The first form of U.S. expansion would occur in the American west. In 1862 the U.S. government would encourage its people to move out west in an attempt to improve and cultivate the land. The Homestead Act of 1862 would provide any adult citizen, or intended citizen, who had not borne arms against the U.S. government, claim over 160 acres of surveyed government land. Claimants would need to have a valid plan for†¦show more content†¦Now connected by a common enemy, Indian tribes who normally focused on fighting each other where brought together by a common enemy. In the infamous battle of Little Big Horn the Sioux and Cheyenne Indians would come togethe r to form an army of about 5,000 men who would defeat General George A. Custard and his entire command of 250 men. Despite putting up a good fight by 1890 eight new western states entered the Union, and Native Americans where pushed into reservations where they lived in poverty or railroad towns where they were dependent on railroad companies to provide them with shelter and living. The U.S. government would now focus on educating Native American children in white ways, in order to integrate them with American society, and by 1887 the Dawes Act would grant any Native Americans who â€Å"adopted the habits of civilized life† American citizenship. However this would not mark the end of the conflict. In 1890, a religious revitalization campaign know as Ghost Dance would come about. Indian leaders foretold a day when Native American culture would once again be restored, the buffalo would return, and whites would disappear. Afraid of an uprising the government sent troops to India n reservations and on December 29th troops would open fire near Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota, killing 200 Indians, mostly woman and children. This would mark the end of the armed