Settling the Great Settling the Great WestWest

I. New Lands Are SettledI. New Lands Are SettledLarge amounts of land gained Large amounts of land gained

during the 1840’s and 50’s were during the 1840’s and 50’s were not interesting to settlers until not interesting to settlers until the 1860’s and 70’s. After the the 1860’s and 70’s. After the Civil War and Reconstruction Civil War and Reconstruction land became a precious and land became a precious and sought after commodity.sought after commodity.

I. New Lands Are SettledI. New Lands Are SettledA. GoldA. Gold

Discovered in California in 1849, Discovered in California in 1849, Colorado in 1858, and Colorado in 1858, and Nevada in 1859.Nevada in 1859.

The Comstock Lode (NV) one single The Comstock Lode (NV) one single silver silver deposit worth $340 deposit worth $340 million.million.

The promise of riches brought The promise of riches brought thousands thousands westward.westward.

I. New Lands Are SettledI. New Lands Are SettledB. FarmlandB. Farmland

1. Homestead Act, 1862-promised 1. Homestead Act, 1862-promised 160 acres of 160 acres of land for cultivation.land for cultivation.

2. Morrill Land Act, 1862-gave 2. Morrill Land Act, 1862-gave federal land to federal land to states to fund and states to fund and build agricultural build agricultural colleges.colleges.

Life was not easy for these Homesteaders. Life was not easy for these Homesteaders. Many went west with the hope of a new life Many went west with the hope of a new life and failed in the harsh life on the prairie.and failed in the harsh life on the prairie.

Homesteading Family-Nebraska

Many pictures exist from this era as families documented their journey.

Families traveled west in covered wagons with all of Families traveled west in covered wagons with all of their belongings in tow.their belongings in tow.

The Homestead Act required you to farm the land. Prairie soil was fertile, but tough to farm

initially.

Building materials were scarce, so homesteaders resorted to building “soddies.” These homes were made out of the one thing

that was plentiful: grass

Building materials were scarce, so homesteaders resorted to building “soddies.” These homes were made out of the one thing

that was plentiful: grass

Building materials were scarce, so homesteaders resorted to building “soddies.” These homes were made out of the one thing

that was plentiful: grass

Another option: a dugout cut into a hill

I. New Lands Are SettledI. New Lands Are SettledC. Innovations-New inventions made C. Innovations-New inventions made

successful successful business possible in new landsbusiness possible in new lands

1. Barbed wire-mass produced by Joseph 1. Barbed wire-mass produced by Joseph Glidden, Glidden, it kept cattle in and protected it kept cattle in and protected crops.crops.

2. Windmill-Used prairie 2. Windmill-Used prairie winds for winds for irrigation.irrigation.

I. New Lands Are SettledI. New Lands Are SettledC. Innovations-New inventions made C. Innovations-New inventions made

successful successful business possible in new business possible in new landslands

3. Sod drill-Allowed for easier planting in 3. Sod drill-Allowed for easier planting in prairie prairie soil.soil.

4. Refrigerator car-Allowed for transport 4. Refrigerator car-Allowed for transport of meat of meat or perishable goods.or perishable goods.

5. Steel Plow-cut through 5. Steel Plow-cut through

prairie soil.prairie soil.

6. Reaper-Allowed for easier harvesting of 6. Reaper-Allowed for easier harvesting of graingrain

I. New Lands Are SettledI. New Lands Are SettledD. RailroadsD. Railroads

1862 and 1864 Railroad Acts gave land and 1862 and 1864 Railroad Acts gave land and money to companies to build rails. 2 money to companies to build rails. 2 Companies emerged:Companies emerged:

1. Union Pacific-used Irish immigrants and 1. Union Pacific-used Irish immigrants and veterans working west from Omaha, veterans working west from Omaha,

NebraskaNebraska2. Central Pacific-used Chinese immigrants 2. Central Pacific-used Chinese immigrants

working east from Sacramento.working east from Sacramento.

May 10, 1869-Transcontinental RR May 10, 1869-Transcontinental RR completed at Promontory Point, Utahcompleted at Promontory Point, Utah

Impact of the Railroad:Impact of the Railroad:

SocialSocialEasier transport, created jobs, Easier transport, created jobs,

movement west, immigration movement west, immigration

PoliticalPoliticalLand and money grants, parties moved westward, Land and money grants, parties moved westward,

regulationregulation

EconomicEconomicBy 1900, over 1 million employed, money spent, crop By 1900, over 1 million employed, money spent, crop

transporttransport

Boomtowns-Boomtowns-The Gold Rush and Railroads The Gold Rush and Railroads created many new towns in the west. created many new towns in the west. These towns that would pop up around These towns that would pop up around gold mines and rail stations were known gold mines and rail stations were known as boomtownsas boomtowns

Ghost towns- Ghost towns- When the gold was all mined When the gold was all mined out or the luck ran out, many boomtowns out or the luck ran out, many boomtowns were deserted, becoming ghost towns.were deserted, becoming ghost towns.

I. New Lands Are SettledI. New Lands Are SettledChanges in the RailroadChanges in the Railroad

1. C.F. Dowd organized the world into 24 1. C.F. Dowd organized the world into 24 time time zones so that trains would be on zones so that trains would be on time.time.

I. New Lands Are SettledI. New Lands Are SettledChanges in the RailroadChanges in the Railroad

2. George Pullman built the first 2. George Pullman built the first luxury train cars.luxury train cars.

3. Credit Mobilier Scandal-Railroad 3. Credit Mobilier Scandal-Railroad operators bribed U.S. Senators operators bribed U.S. Senators for more land and money.for more land and money.

4. Interstate Commerce Act, 1887-4. Interstate Commerce Act, 1887-required railroad rates to be required railroad rates to be “reasonable and just.”“reasonable and just.”

*First attempt by the federal government to *First attempt by the federal government to regulate business. Vague and difficult to regulate business. Vague and difficult to

enforce.enforce.

The Truth about CowboysThe Truth about Cowboys

American cowboys American cowboys learned about the learned about the cattle industry from cattle industry from Mexican vaqueros. Mexican vaqueros.

Cowboys around the chuckwagon

The Truth about CowboysThe Truth about CowboysCowboys would make Cowboys would make

the long drive from the long drive from Texas on the Chisholm Texas on the Chisholm Trail to the RR at Trail to the RR at Abilene, Kansas. The Abilene, Kansas. The cattle were then sent cattle were then sent to packing plants in to packing plants in Chicago. Chicago.

The Truth about CowboysThe Truth about Cowboys

Cowboys faced many dangers: stampedes, thunder & Cowboys faced many dangers: stampedes, thunder & lightning, rivers, and droughts. Not to mention Indians.lightning, rivers, and droughts. Not to mention Indians.

The Truth about CowboysThe Truth about Cowboys

Heroes of the West: Wild Bill Hickock Heroes of the West: Wild Bill Hickock

Calamity JaneCalamity Jane

“ “Buffalo Bill” CodyBuffalo Bill” Cody

Deadwood DickDeadwood Dick

Buffalo SoldiersBuffalo SoldiersMany Former Slaves, veterans of the Civil Many Former Slaves, veterans of the Civil

War, and Free blacks were sent west to War, and Free blacks were sent west to form Cavalry regiments to fight Indians, form Cavalry regiments to fight Indians, protect cattle, and maintain peace in the protect cattle, and maintain peace in the Wild West.Wild West.

II. The Second Great Removal & II. The Second Great Removal & Indian WarsIndian Wars

A. Indian Life Before the 1860’sA. Indian Life Before the 1860’s

Natives of the Great Plains had developed Natives of the Great Plains had developed a nomadic lifestyle because of horses. a nomadic lifestyle because of horses. Plains Indians were completely dependant Plains Indians were completely dependant upon the great buffalo herds that upon the great buffalo herds that inhabited the areas for food, clothing, inhabited the areas for food, clothing, shelter, etc.shelter, etc.

Buffalo Herds were immense. There were millions of buffalo on the Great Plains. Their main predator

was man.

II. The Second Great Removal & II. The Second Great Removal & Indian WarsIndian Wars

B. U.S. Government Breaks TreatiesB. U.S. Government Breaks Treaties

The United States government The United States government began to sign treaties & began to sign treaties & establish reservations for establish reservations for Indians. Indians.

Provisions: 1. RR companies could build Provisions: 1. RR companies could build tracks tracks across Indian landsacross Indian lands

2. Indians would be taught to 2. Indians would be taught to farm on farm on their landstheir lands

3. Americanization/assimilation-3. Americanization/assimilation-boarding schools boarding schools

tried to teach tried to teach Indian Indian children how to be children how to be “civilized”.“civilized”.

II. The Second Great Removal & II. The Second Great Removal & Indian WarsIndian Wars

B. U.S. Government Breaks TreatiesB. U.S. Government Breaks Treaties

The United Sates government The United Sates government began to sign treaties & began to sign treaties & establish reservations establish reservations for for Indians.Indians.

Problems: Problems: 1. RR companies always 1. RR companies always wanted more wanted more landland

2. Indians many times didn’t 2. Indians many times didn’t really agree really agree to deals.to deals.

3. Reservations were not well 3. Reservations were not well suppliedsupplied

4. Natives resisted changes to 4. Natives resisted changes to their way their way of life.of life.

The Indian WarsThe Indian Wars1862-Minnesota Sioux killed 1862-Minnesota Sioux killed

over 100 whites out of over 100 whites out of fear. President Lincoln fear. President Lincoln ordered the hanging of 38 ordered the hanging of 38 natives and the Sioux were natives and the Sioux were forced to leave the stateforced to leave the state

1864-Sand Creek Massacre, 1864-Sand Creek Massacre, Colorado-Colonel John Colorado-Colonel John Chivington led the Chivington led the Colorado militia in an Colorado militia in an attack on about 700 attack on about 700 peacefully encamped peacefully encamped Cheyenne. His men killed Cheyenne. His men killed over 450, mostly women over 450, mostly women and children.and children.

The Indian WarsThe Indian Wars1876-Battle of Little Bighorn, Montana- 1876-Battle of Little Bighorn, Montana-

General George Armstrong Custer General George Armstrong Custer and the 7 and the 7thth Cavalry (264 Cavalry (264 men) were wiped out after men) were wiped out after attacking an encampment attacking an encampment of natives led by of natives led by Crazy Horse, their military leader, Crazy Horse, their military leader,

and Sitting Bull, and Sitting Bull, their spiritual leader.their spiritual leader.

The Indian WarsThe Indian Wars1877-Nez Perce of Idaho led by Chief Joseph 1877-Nez Perce of Idaho led by Chief Joseph

were caught and forced to surrender only were caught and forced to surrender only a few miles short of the Canadian border a few miles short of the Canadian border after a 1700 mile hike. after a 1700 mile hike.

Chief Joseph said, Chief Joseph said, “I will fight no “I will fight no more forever.”more forever.”

The Indian WarsThe Indian Wars1870’s-Geronimo led the Apaches in raids 1870’s-Geronimo led the Apaches in raids

against the Government throughout against the Government throughout Arizona and New Mexico. He Arizona and New Mexico. He eventually fled to Mexico.eventually fled to Mexico.

1889-Wovoka, the Ghost Dance-Sioux 1889-Wovoka, the Ghost Dance-Sioux prophet prophet encouraged all natives encouraged all natives to unite and dance to unite and dance together and together and the white man would go the white man would go away, away, returning life to normal.returning life to normal.

The Indian WarsThe Indian Wars1890-Wounded Knee, South Dakota-U.S. 1890-Wounded Knee, South Dakota-U.S.

Army rounded up 350 starving and Army rounded up 350 starving and freezing Sioux. A shot was fired and the freezing Sioux. A shot was fired and the soldiers opened fire with machine guns. soldiers opened fire with machine guns. About 250 Sioux and 25 whites were killed. About 250 Sioux and 25 whites were killed.

This event marked the end of the Indian Wars.

Chief Big Foot

Medicine Man

II. The Second Great Removal & II. The Second Great Removal & Indian WarsIndian Wars

D. Solutions to the Indian ProblemD. Solutions to the Indian Problem

1. Extermination of the Buffalo-The U.S. 1. Extermination of the Buffalo-The U.S. government government paid hunters to kill as many paid hunters to kill as many buffalo as possible to buffalo as possible to eliminate the food eliminate the food source and lifestyle of the Plains source and lifestyle of the Plains Indians. Indians. Many hunters would Many hunters would shoot buffalo from shoot buffalo from the the back of trains back of trains that passed across that passed across the plains. the plains.

In 1800 there were about 65 million buffalo on the Great Plains, In 1800 there were about 65 million buffalo on the Great Plains, and by 1890 there were less than 1000 left. This was the single and by 1890 there were less than 1000 left. This was the single most important step to ending the life of the Plains Indians.most important step to ending the life of the Plains Indians.

II. The Second Great Removal & II. The Second Great Removal & Indian WarsIndian Wars

D. Solutions to the Indian ProblemD. Solutions to the Indian Problem

2. Helen Hunt Jackson-2. Helen Hunt Jackson-A Century of A Century of Dishonor-Dishonor-published in 1881, this published in 1881, this

was a record of the government’s was a record of the government’s lies and broken promises in lies and broken promises in

dealing with Native dealing with Native Americans.Americans.

3. Dawes Severalty Act, 1887-Outlawed tribal 3. Dawes Severalty Act, 1887-Outlawed tribal ownership of land. Sought to break up the ownership of land. Sought to break up the reservations and divide the land up among reservations and divide the land up among individuals. The remaining land was to be individuals. The remaining land was to be

sold sold to help buy farm equipment for to help buy farm equipment for Natives. Natives. **It was a massive failure as many white investors bought It was a massive failure as many white investors bought up land and Indians never received any money or up land and Indians never received any money or equipment.*equipment.*

III. Populism and ReformIII. Populism and ReformA. Problems for FarmersA. Problems for Farmers

Farm goods were not worth as much and Farm goods were not worth as much and loans were harder to pay off.loans were harder to pay off.

B. Farmers OrganizeB. Farmers OrganizeFarmers on the plains began to create Farmers on the plains began to create social groups to protect their interests, social groups to protect their interests, fighting against the railroads and banks. fighting against the railroads and banks. The Grange and several other Farmer’s The Grange and several other Farmer’s

Alliances were the first of Alliances were the first of these groups. these groups.

They pledged to They pledged to “raise less corn and “raise less corn and more hell.”more hell.”

III. Populism and ReformIII. Populism and ReformC. Populist Party-organized in 1891 out of C. Populist Party-organized in 1891 out of

meetings from Farmer’s Alliances.meetings from Farmer’s Alliances. The Omaha The Omaha Platform:Platform:

Money-graduated income tax & Money-graduated income tax & better federal loan programbetter federal loan program

Transportation/Communication-Government Transportation/Communication-Government ownership of RR, telegraph & telephone.ownership of RR, telegraph & telephone.

Government-US Senators elected by popular vote, Government-US Senators elected by popular vote, use of initiative, recall, and referendum.use of initiative, recall, and referendum.

The Populists ran James B. Weaver of Iowa The Populists ran James B. Weaver of Iowa for President in 1892. for President in 1892.

III. Populism and ReformIII. Populism and ReformD. Election of 1896D. Election of 1896

Became a struggle between economic Became a struggle between economic interests and Gold vs. Silver. Greenbacks interests and Gold vs. Silver. Greenbacks were paper money issued that fluctuated were paper money issued that fluctuated wildly because they were not supported by wildly because they were not supported by anything.anything.

William McKinley (Rep)-favored William McKinley (Rep)-favored the Gold Standardthe Gold Standard

III. Populism and ReformIII. Populism and ReformD. Election of 1896D. Election of 1896

William Jennings Bryan William Jennings Bryan (Dem)-great speaker who (Dem)-great speaker who favored bimetallism. He favored bimetallism. He gave the famous “Cross of gave the famous “Cross of Gold” speech. He was Gold” speech. He was actually the nominee of the actually the nominee of the Democrats and the Democrats and the Populists. The Populists Populists. The Populists nominated a different VP nominated a different VP than the Democrats.than the Democrats.

The “Cross of Gold” Speech was given at the The “Cross of Gold” Speech was given at the Democratic Convention in 1896. Democratic Convention in 1896.

““Having behind us the Having behind us the producing masses of this producing masses of this nation and the world, nation and the world, supported by the supported by the commercial interests, the commercial interests, the laboring interests and the laboring interests and the toilers everywhere, we will toilers everywhere, we will answer their demand for a answer their demand for a gold standard by saying gold standard by saying to them: You shall not to them: You shall not press down upon the press down upon the brow of labor this crown brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.cross of gold.””

III. Populism and ReformIII. Populism and ReformD. Election of 1896D. Election of 1896

Results: McKinley defeated Bryan in 1896 Results: McKinley defeated Bryan in 1896 and 1900.and 1900.

The Gold Standard Act was The Gold Standard Act was passed in 1900.passed in 1900.

The Populist Party was absorbed The Populist Party was absorbed by the by the Democrats.Democrats.