“ “The Birth of The Birth of Modern Modern

America” America” 1855-19011855-1901

RuralRural

Of or characteristic of the Of or characteristic of the country, country life, or country, country life, or

country people; living in the country people; living in the country. (Usually country. (Usually

agricultural)agricultural)

UrbanUrban

Of or characteristic of the Of or characteristic of the city, city life, or city people; city, city life, or city people;

living in the city. living in the city.

IndustrialIndustrial

Having to do with the Having to do with the replacement of hand tools by replacement of hand tools by machine and power tools, and machine and power tools, and

the development of large-the development of large-scale production in factories scale production in factories

in cities.in cities.

ImmigrantImmigrant

A person who moves into a A person who moves into a new country or region.new country or region.

MigrationMigration

To move from one place to To move from one place to another. To change locations.another. To change locations.

Manifest Manifest DestinyDestiny

The belief that white, The belief that white, English speaking Americans were English speaking Americans were destined by God to expand the destined by God to expand the United States from the Atlantic to United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific. (No matter who was the Pacific. (No matter who was in between)(Anglo-Saxonism) in between)(Anglo-Saxonism)

Following the turmoil of the Civil War Following the turmoil of the Civil War and Reconstruction, the United States and Reconstruction, the United States began its transformation from a began its transformation from a ruralrural nation to an nation to an industrialindustrial, , urbanurban nation nation linked together by railroads. linked together by railroads.

New inventions and scientific New inventions and scientific discoveries fundamentally altered how discoveries fundamentally altered how Americans lived and worked. New Americans lived and worked. New factories employed thousands of factories employed thousands of workers; cities grew dramatically in workers; cities grew dramatically in size, and tens of millions of new size, and tens of millions of new immigrantsimmigrants flooded into the country. flooded into the country.

Settling the WestSettling the West

Miners and Ranchers were drawn to the Miners and Ranchers were drawn to the west… west… Seeking either to become rich on the gold, Seeking either to become rich on the gold,

silver, and lead deposits.silver, and lead deposits. Or to get rich selling beef and supplies to Or to get rich selling beef and supplies to

those people who were mining.those people who were mining. Mining and ranching attracted settlers Mining and ranching attracted settlers

to western territories that soon had to western territories that soon had populations large enough to qualify for populations large enough to qualify for statehood.statehood.

Minerals were in high demand after Minerals were in high demand after the Civil War because the United the Civil War because the United States was changing from a mostly States was changing from a mostly rural nation, to an industrialized one.rural nation, to an industrialized one.

Because of the movement west and Because of the movement west and the need to get minerals shipped the need to get minerals shipped back east, railroads were built across back east, railroads were built across the west to connect the country.the west to connect the country.

(see stand map)(see stand map)

Henry ComstockHenry Comstock Staked out a claim in 1859 near Virginia City, Staked out a claim in 1859 near Virginia City,

Nevada.Nevada. Grew frustrated because he was not finding gold Grew frustrated because he was not finding gold

in his claim so he sold it, not realizing that the in his claim so he sold it, not realizing that the sticky, blue-grey clay that caused him so much sticky, blue-grey clay that caused him so much difficulty, was actually nearly pure silver ore.difficulty, was actually nearly pure silver ore.

The Comstock lode brought a flood of The Comstock lode brought a flood of prospectors to Virginia City. So many that in prospectors to Virginia City. So many that in 1864, Nevada was admitted as the 361864, Nevada was admitted as the 36thth state. state. This one area generated more than $230 million This one area generated more than $230 million and helped the Union finance (pay for) the civil and helped the Union finance (pay for) the civil war.war.

All over the west, similar situations played All over the west, similar situations played out in mining areas. Overnight, tiny out in mining areas. Overnight, tiny frontier towns became small cities. frontier towns became small cities. Virginia City went from a few hundred, to Virginia City went from a few hundred, to 30,000 people in a few months. 30,000 people in a few months.

These towns were call “Boomtowns” These towns were call “Boomtowns” because of their rapid economic growth.because of their rapid economic growth.

These “Boomtowns” were pretty rowdy These “Boomtowns” were pretty rowdy places. In the “Boomtown” of Tombstone places. In the “Boomtown” of Tombstone Arizona, Marshal Wyatt Earp shot it out in Arizona, Marshal Wyatt Earp shot it out in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral.the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Once the valuable ores were used up Once the valuable ores were used up in these places, the “Boomtowns” in these places, the “Boomtowns” would either disappear, becoming would either disappear, becoming “ghost towns”, or they would return “ghost towns”, or they would return to only a few hundred people, which to only a few hundred people, which is what happened to Virginia City.is what happened to Virginia City.

Types of miningTypes of mining

Placer miningPlacer mining Used to get shallow deposits using tools Used to get shallow deposits using tools

like picks, shovels, and pans.like picks, shovels, and pans. Sluice MiningSluice Mining

Diverted river water down trenches into Diverted river water down trenches into a box with a screen to separate a box with a screen to separate sediments from heavier minerals.sediments from heavier minerals.

Hydraulic miningHydraulic mining Using high pressured water, miners sprayed Using high pressured water, miners sprayed

hill/mountain sides to expose the minerals hill/mountain sides to expose the minerals beneath. beneath.

Very devastating to the natural environment. Very devastating to the natural environment. Mountain sides washed away and the sand, Mountain sides washed away and the sand, silt, and rock would flow into rivers, raising silt, and rock would flow into rivers, raising the water levels and flooding inhabited areas the water levels and flooding inhabited areas downstream.downstream.

Rock and gravel which were washed Rock and gravel which were washed downstream, would also be left on what had downstream, would also be left on what had been good farmland along the river.been good farmland along the river.

The government outlawed this practice in The government outlawed this practice in 1884, but in 1893, congress passed a new law 1884, but in 1893, congress passed a new law allowed it under certain conditions.allowed it under certain conditions.

Quartz miningQuartz mining Deep honey comb system of shafts Deep honey comb system of shafts

where miners go into the earth to where miners go into the earth to extract ore. extract ore.

Ranching and Cattle Ranching and Cattle DrivesDrives

Between the miners and the armies Between the miners and the armies fighting in the Civil War, beef came into fighting in the Civil War, beef came into high demand. Eastern beef supplies high demand. Eastern beef supplies were decimated during the Civil War were decimated during the Civil War leading to high demand and high prices.leading to high demand and high prices.

Thanks to the extension of railroad lines Thanks to the extension of railroad lines west, large ranches sprung up in the west, large ranches sprung up in the west as ranchers sought to get rich off west as ranchers sought to get rich off the need for beef.the need for beef.

Many cattle drive trails were cut Many cattle drive trails were cut from Texas to the railroad stations to from Texas to the railroad stations to the North. Abilene Kansas became the North. Abilene Kansas became the most popular site.the most popular site.

Railroads would transport the cattle Railroads would transport the cattle from the west to the giant from the west to the giant stockyard/slaughter factories in stockyard/slaughter factories in Chicago to be butchered and sent Chicago to be butchered and sent east to feed an industrialized nation.east to feed an industrialized nation.

The end of the great cattle drives The end of the great cattle drives was brought about by….was brought about by…. The invention of barbed wire which The invention of barbed wire which

shut off the open range.shut off the open range. An oversupply of cattle due to An oversupply of cattle due to

competition from foreign investors in competition from foreign investors in the cattle business.the cattle business.

Blizzards which wiped many ranchers Blizzards which wiped many ranchers out.out.

Farming the Great PlainsFarming the Great Plains

Homestead Act of 1862Homestead Act of 1862 Allowed settlers to pay $10 to register Allowed settlers to pay $10 to register

for a tract of public land available for for a tract of public land available for settlement called a homestead. settlement called a homestead.

Homesteaders could claim up to 160 Homesteaders could claim up to 160 acres of land and could receive the acres of land and could receive the rights to that land after living there for rights to that land after living there for 5 years.5 years.

Farming the Great Plains was Farming the Great Plains was tough….tough…. Few trees meant that most settlers had Few trees meant that most settlers had

to construct sod houses.to construct sod houses. Little water meant so settlers had to Little water meant so settlers had to

drill 100ft deep to get access to water drill 100ft deep to get access to water that they could draw to the surface with that they could draw to the surface with hand pumps.hand pumps.

In 1819, Army Major Stephen Long In 1819, Army Major Stephen Long explored the Great Plains. He labeled it explored the Great Plains. He labeled it as the “Great American Desert” and as as the “Great American Desert” and as “almost wholly unfit for cultivation”.“almost wholly unfit for cultivation”.

Despite these seemingly poor conditions, Despite these seemingly poor conditions, new technologies made it possible to new technologies made it possible to farm.farm. John Deere’s new steel plowJohn Deere’s new steel plow Cyrus McCormick’s new reaperCyrus McCormick’s new reaper Seed drillsSeed drills Threshing machinesThreshing machines

Wheat did particularly well and soon Wheat did particularly well and soon became the main crop on the plains.became the main crop on the plains. This is why the area stretching from This is why the area stretching from

North/South Dakota, through Nebraska and North/South Dakota, through Nebraska and Kansas is called the bread basket of Kansas is called the bread basket of America, or the wheat belt. Some farms America, or the wheat belt. Some farms were up to 50,000 acres.were up to 50,000 acres.

By the 1880’s, America is the By the 1880’s, America is the number one exporter of wheat in the number one exporter of wheat in the world. However, drought and world. However, drought and foreign competition led to some very foreign competition led to some very hard times for wheat farmers.hard times for wheat farmers.

Overarching QuestionOverarching Question

So what do western miners, cattle ranchers, So what do western miners, cattle ranchers, and wheat farmers have to do with America and wheat farmers have to do with America becoming a modern industrialized nation? becoming a modern industrialized nation? While America was growing and developing into

a modern, industrialized nation, it needed a steady supply of food (beef, wheat and other crops) to feed its growing city populations.

The minerals that were being mined were invaluable resources that both paid for our modernization, and provided the raw materials we needed to keep our factories going.

The RailroadsThe Railroads

SubsidiesSubsidies

Government assistance Government assistance payments.payments.

Robber BaronsRobber BaronsBusinessmen who use Businessmen who use

ruthless and corrupt means ruthless and corrupt means in order to maximize profits in order to maximize profits for themselves.for themselves.

Captains of Industry

Industrial leaders who used innovative business practices to become successful and progress American industry forward.

Linking The NationLinking The Nation

At the end of the Civil War, the U.S. had At the end of the Civil War, the U.S. had about 35,000 miles of railroad track, about 35,000 miles of railroad track, almost all of it was east of the Mississippi almost all of it was east of the Mississippi River.River.

The U.S. government sought to connect The U.S. government sought to connect the eastern and western parts of the the eastern and western parts of the country.country.

Railroad construction expands Railroad construction expands dramatically, resulting in more than dramatically, resulting in more than 200,000 miles of track being laid by 1900.200,000 miles of track being laid by 1900.

The Transcontinental The Transcontinental RailroadRailroad

Pacific Railway Act of 1862Pacific Railway Act of 1862 President Abraham Lincoln signed it President Abraham Lincoln signed it

into law.into law. Provided for the construction of a Provided for the construction of a

transcontinental railroad by two transcontinental railroad by two companies.companies.

Each Company would be paid plus Each Company would be paid plus granted land along the track it laid granted land along the track it laid which it could then sell to settlers.which it could then sell to settlers.

The CompetitorsThe Competitors

The Union PacificThe Union Pacific Began laying track west from Omaha, Began laying track west from Omaha,

Nebraska in 1865.Nebraska in 1865. Employed around 10,000 workers.Employed around 10,000 workers.

Civil War veterans, Irish immigrants, Civil War veterans, Irish immigrants, frustrated miners and farmers, and ex-frustrated miners and farmers, and ex-convicts.convicts.

ChallengesChallenges Blizzards in the mountains, heat in the desert, Blizzards in the mountains, heat in the desert,

and angry Native Americans.and angry Native Americans. Camp life was rough, dirty, and Camp life was rough, dirty, and

dangerous. dangerous. (Hell on Wheels)(Hell on Wheels) Laid 1,086 miles of track.Laid 1,086 miles of track.

The Central PacificThe Central Pacific

Began laying track east from Began laying track east from Sacramento California.Sacramento California.

Shortage of laborers in California Shortage of laborers in California leads to about 10,000 Chinese leads to about 10,000 Chinese immigrants being hired for $1 a day.immigrants being hired for $1 a day.

Laid 688 miles of track.Laid 688 miles of track.

Job CompleteJob Complete The Transcontinental Railroad was The Transcontinental Railroad was

completed in 4 years.completed in 4 years. 1,774 miles of total track were laid.1,774 miles of total track were laid. 400 rails per mile x 1,774 miles = 709,600 400 rails per mile x 1,774 miles = 709,600

total rails, each rail took 10 spikes x 709,600 total rails, each rail took 10 spikes x 709,600 rails = 7,096,000 spikes.rails = 7,096,000 spikes.

May 10, 1869 – both companies joined May 10, 1869 – both companies joined together at a ceremony at Promontory together at a ceremony at Promontory Summit, Utah.Summit, Utah. Gold and Silver spikes were driven in by Gold and Silver spikes were driven in by

dignitaries.dignitaries. (Eye witness account)(Eye witness account)

Railroads Encourage Railroads Encourage Growth and Modernization.Growth and Modernization.

Many more railroads crisscrossed the Many more railroads crisscrossed the nation after the Transcontinental was nation after the Transcontinental was completed.completed. This linked the nation like never before, This linked the nation like never before,

opening new markets for many products.opening new markets for many products. The building of the railroads themselves The building of the railroads themselves

spurred the economy by spending huge spurred the economy by spending huge amounts of money on steel, coal, timber, amounts of money on steel, coal, timber, and other necessary materials.and other necessary materials.

Cornelius VanderbiltCornelius Vanderbilt

One of the most successful railroad One of the most successful railroad consolidators.consolidators.

By 1869 he had purchased many By 1869 he had purchased many smaller lines from New York City to smaller lines from New York City to Chicago, thus allowing for direct rail Chicago, thus allowing for direct rail service between the two.service between the two.

Built Grand Central Station.Built Grand Central Station.

Time ZonesTime Zones Before the 1880’s, people set their local Before the 1880’s, people set their local

clocks by the position of the sun at clocks by the position of the sun at noon.noon.

This led to many time differences which This led to many time differences which not only made consistent train not only made consistent train schedules difficult, but also led to many schedules difficult, but also led to many train collisions.train collisions.

In 1883, the American Railway In 1883, the American Railway Association divided the country into 4 Association divided the country into 4 different time zones. The federal different time zones. The federal government made them official in 1918.government made them official in 1918.

Technological Impacts on Technological Impacts on the Railroads.the Railroads.

Air brakes and better engines Air brakes and better engines allowed for heavier trains on the allowed for heavier trains on the lines.lines.

This, combined with unified railroad This, combined with unified railroad systems, leads to efficient systems, leads to efficient operations.operations.

The cost per mile for a ton of freight The cost per mile for a ton of freight dropped from 2 cents in 1860 to ¾ dropped from 2 cents in 1860 to ¾ cent in 1900.cent in 1900.

Robber BaronsRobber Barons Federal government encouraged railroad Federal government encouraged railroad

construction by giving land grants to railroad construction by giving land grants to railroad companies which they then would sell to companies which they then would sell to settlers, real estate companies, and other settlers, real estate companies, and other businesses to raise money for building the businesses to raise money for building the railroads.railroads.

More than 120 million acres of public land is More than 120 million acres of public land is given away during the 1850’s and 1860’s.given away during the 1850’s and 1860’s.

This system leads to corruption as railroad This system leads to corruption as railroad officials turned to bribing government officials officials turned to bribing government officials in order to get more land grants, while at the in order to get more land grants, while at the same time they cheated their investors.same time they cheated their investors.

The Great Northern The Great Northern RailroadRailroad

James J. HillJames J. Hill Built the Great Northern from Wisconsin to Washington Built the Great Northern from Wisconsin to Washington

without any federal land grants or subsidies.without any federal land grants or subsidies. Carefully planned his route and helped settlers move in Carefully planned his route and helped settlers move in

along his line, ensuring future freight business for himself.along his line, ensuring future freight business for himself. Identified American products which were in demand in Identified American products which were in demand in

China (cotton, textiles, and flour), and then arranged to China (cotton, textiles, and flour), and then arranged to ship these goods to Washington state for shipment to Asia. ship these goods to Washington state for shipment to Asia.

Hill made a lot of money hauling these goods west and Hill made a lot of money hauling these goods west and then hauling lumber and farm products back east.then hauling lumber and farm products back east.

The Great Northern became the most successful The Great Northern became the most successful Transcontinental railroad, and it was the only one that Transcontinental railroad, and it was the only one that didn’t eventually go bankrupt.didn’t eventually go bankrupt.

Overarching Overarching Question????Question????

How did railroads encourage the How did railroads encourage the settlement of the Great Plains and the settlement of the Great Plains and the west?west? Railroads not only hauled settlers west to the Railroads not only hauled settlers west to the

Great Plains and western territories, they Great Plains and western territories, they also then provided a market for those settlers also then provided a market for those settlers by hauling their crops, cattle, and natural by hauling their crops, cattle, and natural resources back east. In addition, railroads resources back east. In addition, railroads allowed for better communication between allowed for better communication between east and west, making the west feel east and west, making the west feel connected to the rest of the country.connected to the rest of the country.