Questions On War History! Hardest Quiz! Trivia

The invention of barbed wire made it possible to fence in huge tracts of land on the treeless plains. Barbed wire was a cheap and effective way to create boundaries and enclose livestock, preventing them from wandering off. This invention revolutionized the cattle industry and allowed for the expansion of agriculture in previously unfenced areas. It also played a significant role in the settlement of the American West.

The correct answer is Battle of Little Big Horn. This battle is famous for General George Custer and the US Army 7th Cavalry's attempt to attack the Sioux Indians. The battle took place in 1876 and is also known as Custer's Last Stand. It resulted in a major victory for the Sioux and is considered a significant event in the history of Native American resistance to the US government's westward expansion.

Reservations were lands set aside for Native Americans by the government but were not suitable for farming or Indian survival. These areas were often remote, arid, or otherwise unsuitable for agriculture, making it difficult for Native Americans to sustain themselves through traditional means. As a result, many Native Americans faced poverty, limited resources, and a loss of their traditional way of life. The establishment of reservations was part of a larger policy of forced assimilation and displacement of Native Americans by the US government.

The correct answer is "Sewards Folly." This term refers to the criticism and skepticism surrounding the purchase of Alaska by the US Secretary of State, William Seward, from Russia. Many in the press considered it a foolish and wasteful decision, hence the term "folly." The purchase was initially met with ridicule and disbelief, but it later proved to be a valuable acquisition for the United States in terms of resources and strategic importance.

During the Reconstruction era, many African Americans faced discrimination and violence in the southern states. As a result, some chose to leave the South and migrate to Western lands in search of better opportunities and freedom from oppression. These African Americans who fled the Reconstruction South and settled in the West were known as Exodusters. This term specifically refers to the migration of African Americans from the South to Kansas in the late 19th century. The Exodusters sought to escape the harsh conditions of the South and establish new lives in the West.

Chief Joseph was the leader of the Nez Perce who tried to lead a group of refugees 1,300 miles to Canada. The Nez Perce were a Native American tribe who inhabited the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. In the late 19th century, they were forced to leave their ancestral lands by the U.S. government. Chief Joseph led his people in an attempt to flee to Canada to avoid being confined to a reservation. Despite their valiant efforts, they were eventually captured and forced onto reservations.

The correct answer is Open Range. In an Open Range system, the property is not fenced in, allowing cowboys to freely round up their cattle and bring them to eastern markets. This system was common during the 19th century in the western United States, where large areas of land were available for grazing. The absence of fences allowed for the free movement of cattle and facilitated the cowboy's job of herding and driving the cattle to market.

The Homestead Act, enacted in 1862, permitted any citizen or intended citizen to claim 160 acres of public land in the western United States. To gain title to the land, the homesteader had to live on the land, build a dwelling, and cultivate crops for a period of five years. This legislation was aimed at promoting westward expansion and encouraging settlement of the frontier by offering land to individuals willing to develop and improve it.

Congress supported a transcontinental railroad by providing money and land grants to builders. Land grants were a form of financial support where Congress gave large amounts of land to railroad companies, who could then sell the land to raise funds for building the railroad. This helped incentivize and finance the construction of the railroad, as the companies could use the land grants to generate revenue.

The correct answer is "Sooner." The term "Sooner" refers to individuals who were known for sneaking into the Oklahoma territory and staking their claim before the official opening. They would arrive sooner than allowed in order to secure the best land for themselves.

In the fall of 1864, a group of Colorado militia encountered a camp of Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians who were unarmed. Without any provocation, the militia opened fire on the Indians, resulting in a brutal and deadly attack. This event came to be known as the Sand Creek Massacre.

The Battle of Wounded Knee marked the end of the conflict between US soldiers and American Indians on the Great Plains because it was the last major engagement between the two sides. This battle, which took place in 1890, resulted in the massacre of a large number of Lakota Sioux men, women, and children by the US Army. It was a tragic event that effectively ended the resistance of the Native American tribes on the Great Plains and marked the end of an era.

Leadville, Colorado and Nevada City, Montana were referred to as "Boom Towns" because they experienced rapid growth and prosperity during the gold and silver mining boom. These towns flourished as long as there was a steady supply of gold and silver, which attracted miners and investors. However, once the mines were depleted or the mining industry declined, the towns often faced economic decline and population loss.

The Treaty of Fort Laramie guaranteed American Indian land rights on the Great Plains but forced the Sioux to live on a reservation. This treaty, signed in 1868, was an agreement between the United States government and several Plains Indian tribes, including the Sioux. It established the Great Sioux Reservation, which encompassed parts of present-day South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wyoming. The treaty aimed to bring peace between the tribes and the U.S. government, but ultimately led to conflict as the government failed to uphold its promises, leading to the Battle of Little Bighorn and further tensions between the Sioux and the U.S. government.