West — The American
: Detail the nomadic culture of tribes like the Lakota Sioux, whose survival depended on the buffalo for food, shelter, and tools.
: Explain how the 1862 Pacific Railroad Act connected the East and West, accelerating migration and the decline of the buffalo. The American West
: Explore the motives and hardships of groups like the Mormons and the ill-fated Donner Party, and the significance of the Oregon Trail. : Detail the nomadic culture of tribes like
: Trace the rise of the "Beef Bonanza" and the era of the open range, led by figures like Joseph McCoy. 3. Conflict and Conquest (1876–1895) : Trace the rise of the "Beef Bonanza"
Creating a paper on "The American West" typically involves exploring the tensions between rapid expansion and the established cultures of indigenous peoples. For students, this often aligns with the Edexcel GCSE History curriculum, which focuses on the period from c. 1835 to 1895. 1. Early Settlement and Expansion (1835–1862)
