US History

U.S. History Study Guide

©2018 of 194 depended on the buffalo for food, leather, and other material needs. By the 1870’s the buffalo population came near extinction, as White hunters killed nine million buffalo between 1872 and 1875. American hunters often killed the animals solely for their hide, leaving the carcass to rot, while Army generals killed the buffalo in attempts to drive Native Americans off lands they wanted to control. 14.21 The United States Purchases Alaska (Seward's Folly) The term Seward's folly refers to the United States' Secretary of State William Seward's decision to purchase the Alaska from Russia in 1867. At the time, Seward's decision to buy the land was thought of as a horrible mistake. In 1867, Czar Alexander II of Russia decided to sell the country's territory in Alaska, because Russia was having economic troubles and would not be able to defend the territory from invaders. The United States purchased about six million square miles of land at only a few cents per acre. Several critics in the media that gave it the name "Seward's Folly". In the 1890’s, large quantities of goldwere discovered in the Alaskan territory, whichmade critics change their opinion. Unfortunately, he never got to see his decision acknowledged; he passed away before the gold had been found. It was established as an organized territory in 1912, it did not become a state until 1959. Alaska would become the largest of the states. 14.22 The End of Reconstruction The 1872 split in the Republican Party accelerated the collapse of Republican rule in the South. Moderates in Congress pushed through Amnesty Acts allowing almost all ex-Confederate officials to return to politics and hold office. Using tactics such as promising tax cuts and using violence and intimidation, Democrats took control of one state after another in the South. Some Republicans gave up and moved back North, while others defected to the Democratic Party. By 1877, Democrats gained enough votes to win state elections in every one of the former Confederate states. Democratic Redemption Democrats called their return to power Redemption. Once under Democratic control, every state in the South cut expenses, ended social programs, and revised their tax systems to grant relief to landowners. Many African Americans migrated northward to escape the discriminatory policies of the South. 14.23 Hayes-Tilden Compromise In the 1876 presidential election, Republicans nominated the moderate Rutherford B. Hayes, and the Democrats nominated Samuel J. Tilden. Although Tilden won the popular vote, Republicans Achieve Page 188