Edexcel GCSE History - Renaissance Medicine, | Latest Question and Answers| 2025/2026 Academic Marksheet| Verified 100% How did ideas about the cause of disease begin to change during the Renaissance? Fewer people believed in supernatural ca

Edexcel GCSE History American West (Complete) Questions and Answers| May 2025| [Verified 100%] Explain why the buffalo were central to Plains Indian survival. Every part of the buffalo was used—for food, clothes, tools, and even shelter. Their whole lifestyle was based around following and using the buffalo. Describe two consequences of the Fort Laramie Treaty (1851). It promised peace but actually opened the door to more settler expansion. It also started the idea of giving the tribes fixed areas—early versions of reservations. How did Manifest Destiny justify US expansion? It gave Americans the belief that they were meant to spread across the continent. It made them feel entitled to take land, even if others already lived there. Why did the US government want Native Americans to live on reservations? To control them and free up land for settlers. They also wanted to force them to live more like white Americans (farming, Christianity, etc.). Analyse the impact of the transcontinental railroad on the American West. It connected the East and West, brought settlers, boosted trade—but also disrupted buffalo herds and led to more conflicts with Plains Indians. 2 In what ways did the US government encourage westward migration in the 1860s and 1870s? Acts like the Homestead Act and Pacific Railway Act gave people cheap land and transport. It was basically an invitation to settle the West. How did the Plains environment shape the way Indians lived? They were nomadic, used tipis for mobility, and relied on buffalo and horses. The harsh land meant they had to adapt to survive. Why did law and order break down in boomtowns? Towns grew too fast for proper legal systems, and gold/silver meant tensions were high. No police + guns = chaos. In what ways did the US army try to defeat Plains Indian resistance? They used total war tactics—burning villages, killing horses, and destroying food supplies. Plus, they attacked during winter when tribes were weakest. Assess the impact of the Indian Appropriations Act (1851) on Native American life. It marked the start of reservation life. Tribes lost freedom to roam and had to rely more on government rations, which led to tension and dependency. Why did the open range come to an end in the 1880s? 3 Harsh winters, overgrazing, barbed wire fencing, and smaller ranches made big, open grazing areas unworkable. How far did the Homestead Act succeed in populating the West? It attracted settlers and spread farming, but not all land was good and some people cheated the system. Explain the causes of Red Cloud’s War (1866–68). Gold was discovered in Montana and miners crossed Sioux hunting grounds. The US built forts on sacred land, breaking the Fort Laramie Treaty. How did the Dawes Act (1887) aim to change Native American society? It split tribal land into private plots to encourage farming. The goal was to break up tribal culture and speed up assimilation. Describe the role of the cattle industry in shaping the western economy. Cattle ranching became big business—trails, railroads, and meatpacking created jobs and linked the West to national markets. Why did the Mormons succeed in settling Salt Lake City when other groups failed? They were super organised—shared land, irrigation, and strong leadership under Brigham Young. They worked together more than typical settlers. 4 In what ways did barbed wire change life on the Plains? It ended the open range and protected crops from animals. But it also caused conflicts— especially with cowboys and small ranchers. Explain two reasons for the US victory at the Battle of Wounded Knee (1890). The army had way more firepower, and the Sioux were exhausted, starving, and demoralised after years of pressure and reservation life. How did the Gold Rush increase tension between different groups in the West? It brought miners from all over the world, leading to racism, violence, and pressure on Native American lands. Assess the significance of Little Bighorn in US-Indian relations. It was a short-term win for the Sioux, but led to huge backlash. The arm