Westward Expansion Crash Course US History

John Green explores the myths and realities of the Wild West, highlighting its impact on American culture and economy. The video discusses Frederick Jackson Turner's Frontier Thesis, the role of railroads in Western expansion, and the conflicts with Native Americans. It also examines government policies like the Dawes Act and the transformation of Western farming into agribusiness. The episode concludes by reflecting on the Wild West's influence on modern industrial capitalism.

What was Frederick Jackson Turner's main argument about the American West?

• It was an uninhabited land waiting to be settled.

• It was responsible for key American cultural traits.

• It was a place of lawlessness and chaos.

• It was primarily settled by cowboys and gunslingers.

Which group primarily settled the Western frontier?

• Individual adventurers

• Only Easterners

• Only former slaves

• Families and immigrant groups

What role did railroads play in the settlement of the West?

• They discouraged settlement by making travel difficult.

• They were irrelevant to Western expansion.

• They made settlement profitable and livable.

• They only transported cattle.

What was the primary goal of the Dawes Act of 1887?

• To promote Native American self-governance

• To create large reservations for tribes

• To allot land to individual Native American families

• To preserve Native American culture

What was the purpose of the boarding schools set up by the Bureau of Indian Affairs?

• To preserve Native American languages

• To teach Native American children their traditional customs

• To integrate Native American children into American society

• To provide higher education opportunities

What was the impact of the Dawes Act on Native American land ownership?

• It resulted in a significant loss of Native American land.

• It preserved Native American land for future generations.

• It increased Native American land holdings.

• It had no impact on Native American land ownership.

How did the image of the cowboy become popularized?

• By Native American stories

• Through Hollywood movies

• By the railroads and cattle drives

• Through government propaganda

What was a significant challenge faced by Western farmers in the late 19th century?

• Overabundance of labor

• Excessive rainfall

• Competition with international markets

• Lack of access to railroads

What was a major factor in the transformation of Western agriculture?

• The decline of railroads

• Large-scale irrigation projects

• The end of cattle ranching

• The rise of small family farms

Which of the following best describes the economic system of the Wild West by the end of the 19th century?

• A self-sufficient, isolated economy

• A system dominated by agribusiness and industrial capitalism

• A system of small, independent farms

• A barter-based economy