The American West c1835-c1895 period study investigates the expansion of the American West, the settlement and development of the land, and the conflicts and conquests which resulted in the establishment of the western United States. You will study the role played by key events and individuals during its development, as well as how the American West changed the lives of many. You will focus on crucial events during this period, and study the different political, economic and social changes that occurred.

This study will enable you to understand the complexities of how the American West came to be. You will investigate themes such as settlement, religion and beliefs, nationalism, technology, farming, government, and tribal structures. This course will enable you to develop the historical skills of explanation and analysis of key events so you can demonstrate your understanding of how events are connected.

The American West c1835-c1895 is split into three key topics:

• ❖ In Topic 1 you will study the beginnings of settlement of the American West from 1835-1862. You will investigate what life was like for the Plains Indians, as well as the US government policy which helped enable mass migration by white settlers, and how this led to tension between Native Americans and those seeking to take their land.
• ❖ Topic 2 looks at the development of the American West between 1862 and 1876. You will investigate how life on the Great Plains developed, the consequences of the Civil War on the American West, and the impact of industrialisation and how it came into conflict with the lives of Native Americans. You will analyse how these developments led to conflicts, specifically Little Crow's War, the Sand Creek Massacre, and Red Cloud's War.
• ❖ Topic 3 looks at the conflicts and conquests that occurred from 1876 to 1895. You will study how tension increased during this period, as well investigating the changes in farming and the growing cattle industry. You will investigate the continuous problems of lawlessness, and how difficult it was to establish law and order. You will focus on some significant figures, the growth of settlement (such as the Exoduster movement), and the continuous destruction of the Plains Indians' way of life and their near-extinction.

Some of the key individuals studied on this course include:

• ❖ Brigham Young.
• ❖ Little Crow.
• ❖ Red Cloud.
• ❖ Abraham Lincoln.
• ❖ Crazy Horse.
• ❖ Sitting Bull.
• ❖ George Armstrong Custer.
• ❖ President Grant.

Some of the key events you will study on this course include:

• ❖ The Californian Gold Rush.
• ❖ The American Civil War.
• ❖ Little Crow's War.
• ❖ The Sand Creek Massacre.
• ❖ The Great Sioux War.
• ❖ The Fetterman Trap.
• ❖ The Exoduster Movement.
• ❖ The Battle of Little Bighorn.
• ❖ The Wounded Knee Massacre.
• ❖ The Closure of the Frontier by the US Government.

The American West c1835-1895 period study forms part of Paper 2, which you will have a total of 1 hour 45 minutes to complete. You should spend approximately 50 minutes on this section. There will be 3 exam questions which will assess what you have learned on The American West. c1835-1895. For Question 3, you will select two out of three options.

• ❖ Question 1 is worth 8 marks and requires you to identify two consequences of an event. You will need to support the identified consequences with facts and explain how the consequences occurred.
• ❖ Question 2 is worth 8 marks and requires you to write an analytical narrative account of an event or time period. You will need to describe what happened, as well as explain how and why events are connected.
• ❖ Question 3 is worth 8 marks and requires you to explain the importance of two events, people or developments in relation to specific situations. You will need to explain what difference the event made to the specific situation.