The Bonanza WestThe Bonanza West

Victoria StahlVictoria Stahl

California Gold RushCalifornia Gold Rush

In 1849, individual prospectors In 1849, individual prospectors struck gold along the Sierra struck gold along the Sierra NevadaNevada

Placer miningPlacer mining was used to was used to acquire goldacquire gold

Placer mining- required Placer mining- required little technology save for a little technology save for a shovel and a washing pan shovel and a washing pan to separate gold from other to separate gold from other ores in streamsores in streams

Gold seekers were often Gold seekers were often nicknamed “forty-niners” due nicknamed “forty-niners” due to the year of the start of the to the year of the start of the CA rushCA rush

Forty-Niner

Comstock LodeComstock Lode

Named for Henry T.P. Comstock, a drifter who talked his Named for Henry T.P. Comstock, a drifter who talked his way into the claim way into the claim

Discovered in 1859, near Virginia City, Nevada. Discovered in 1859, near Virginia City, Nevada. Produced more that $306 million between 1859 and Produced more that $306 million between 1859 and 1879 1879

““The sidewalks swarmed with people…Joy sat on every The sidewalks swarmed with people…Joy sat on every countenance, and there was a glad, almost fierce, countenance, and there was a glad, almost fierce, intensity in every eye, that told of the money-getting intensity in every eye, that told of the money-getting schemes that were seething in every brain and the high schemes that were seething in every brain and the high hope that held sway in every heart.” -Samuel Clemenshope that held sway in every heart.” -Samuel Clemens

Black Hills Gold RushBlack Hills Gold Rush

Lasted from 1874-1878Lasted from 1874-1878

An army tried to keep miners out An army tried to keep miners out of the black hills (Sioux hunting of the black hills (Sioux hunting grounds)grounds)

Colonel George Custer was Colonel George Custer was sent to disprove rumors of sent to disprove rumors of gold and send miners away, gold and send miners away, instead he found gold and the instead he found gold and the rush continuedrush continued

Mining town Deadwood, South Mining town Deadwood, South Dakota was formedDakota was formed

Martha Jane Canary “Calamity Martha Jane Canary “Calamity Jane” and “Wild Bill” Hickok Jane” and “Wild Bill” Hickok were two famous residents of were two famous residents of DeadwoodDeadwood

Calamity Jane Wild Bill Hickok

Other Mining InfoOther Mining Info

““Instant Cities” such as Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Denver were Instant Cities” such as Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Denver were formedformed

Miners flocked from strike to strike; new mining camps and Miners flocked from strike to strike; new mining camps and towns sprang up quicklytowns sprang up quickly

1860-1870-other important mining strikes in Washington, Idaho, 1860-1870-other important mining strikes in Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Arizona, and Dakota.Colorado, Montana, Arizona, and Dakota.

““The miners of Idaho were like quicksilver. A mass of them dropped The miners of Idaho were like quicksilver. A mass of them dropped in any locality, broke up into individual globules, and ran off after in any locality, broke up into individual globules, and ran off after any atom of gold in their vicinity. They stayed nowhere longer than any atom of gold in their vicinity. They stayed nowhere longer than the gold attracted them”--Hubert Howethe gold attracted them”--Hubert Howe

Other mining towns include Virginia City, Nevada, Leadville, Other mining towns include Virginia City, Nevada, Leadville, Colorado, Tombstone, Arizona, etc.Colorado, Tombstone, Arizona, etc.

Cattle BonanzaCattle Bonanza

From 1865-1885/1886 cattle ranching From 1865-1885/1886 cattle ranching dominated the Great Plainsdominated the Great Plains

““open range”-vast fenceless area open range”-vast fenceless area extending from the Texas extending from the Texas Panhandle into CanadaPanhandle into Canada

Vaqueros-Mexican cattle ranchers, Vaqueros-Mexican cattle ranchers, developed techniques of branding, developed techniques of branding, roundups, and ropingroundups, and roping

Jospeh G. McCoy- had the Idea of Jospeh G. McCoy- had the Idea of using Kansas railways as a means to using Kansas railways as a means to ship Texas beef to eastern citiesship Texas beef to eastern cities

By 1880, more than 6 Million cattle had By 1880, more than 6 Million cattle had been driven Northbeen driven North

The last Northern cattle roundup took The last Northern cattle roundup took place in 1905place in 1905

Farming BonanzaFarming Bonanza

Took place between 1870 and 1900Took place between 1870 and 1900 During this time the population of the Plains states tripledDuring this time the population of the Plains states tripled Sod Houses were common, $2.78 to build Sod Houses were common, $2.78 to build

Exodusters- a group of approx. six thousand African Americans who Exodusters- a group of approx. six thousand African Americans who left their homes in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi in 1879, left their homes in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi in 1879, seeking better lives in Kansas, where they worked as laborers or seeking better lives in Kansas, where they worked as laborers or farmersfarmersDry Farming- farming technique developed to allow planting in the Dry Farming- farming technique developed to allow planting in the more arid parts of the West; where settlers had to deal with far less more arid parts of the West; where settlers had to deal with far less rainfall than they had east of the Mississippi. Furrows were plowed a rainfall than they had east of the Mississippi. Furrows were plowed a foot or so deep and filled with dust mulch to loosen soil and slow foot or so deep and filled with dust mulch to loosen soil and slow evaporationevaporationBonanza Farms- huge Plains farms that covered thousands of acres Bonanza Farms- huge Plains farms that covered thousands of acres of land, represented agricultural development similar to that of land, represented agricultural development similar to that occurring in industryoccurring in industry

More Farming..More Farming..

Sod House

Exodusters