The Great West and The Great West and

Agricultural ExpansionAgricultural Expansion

Destruction of the Indian

By the time of By the time of the Civil War the Civil War an estimated an estimated 250,000 250,000 Indians lived in Indians lived in the west.the west.

Great Plains tribes Great Plains tribes included the included the Comanche, Sioux, Comanche, Sioux, Cheyenne, Pawnee, Cheyenne, Pawnee, Blackfoot, Crow - Blackfoot, Crow - lived by following lived by following buffalo herds on buffalo herds on horseback.horseback.

Southern Plains Southern Plains tribes included the tribes included the Osage, Kiowa, Osage, Kiowa, Omaha, Iowa - Omaha, Iowa - less nomadic less nomadic practiced some practiced some farming.farming.

Desert Desert Southwest - Southwest - Navajo, Apache, Navajo, Apache, Pueblo, Zuni, Pueblo, Zuni, Hopi, - lived by Hopi, - lived by both hunting and both hunting and farmingfarming

Columbia Columbia Plateau / Western Plateau / Western Rockies - Utes, Rockies - Utes, Shoshone, Shoshone, Bannock, Snake, Bannock, Snake, Modoc, Nez Modoc, Nez Perce', - hunting Perce', - hunting and gathering and gathering

Western coastal Western coastal and desert - and desert - "Digger" tribes "Digger" tribes - primitive - primitive gatherers such gatherers such as - Chumash, as - Chumash, Yokuts, Yahi, Yokuts, Yahi, Yurok.Yurok.

Pacific Pacific Northwest - Northwest - Kwakiutl, Haida, Kwakiutl, Haida, Tlingit, Bella Tlingit, Bella Coola, Nootka, Coola, Nootka, Salish, Salish, Tsimshian - Tsimshian - Hunter / Fishers Hunter / Fishers

Expansion of settlers, miners, cattlemen, railroads etc. Expansion of settlers, miners, cattlemen, railroads etc. - led to conflict and resettlement onto reservations.- led to conflict and resettlement onto reservations.

1851 - Beginning with 1851 - Beginning with the Sioux treaty Federal the Sioux treaty Federal government begins a government begins a program of program of concentrating plains concentrating plains Indians north and south Indians north and south of proposed white of proposed white settlement areassettlement areas..

1862 - Sioux 1862 - Sioux uprising in uprising in Minnesota leads Minnesota leads to trial and to trial and execution of execution of Sioux leaders.Sioux leaders.

Sand Creek Massacre1864 - Cheyenne 1864 - Cheyenne

uprising in Colorado uprising in Colorado - Colonel J.M. - Colonel J.M. Chivington's militia Chivington's militia forces massacred forces massacred 400 Indians at Sand 400 Indians at Sand Creek.Creek.

1866 - General 1866 - General Connors declares Connors declares all Indians living all Indians living north of the Platte north of the Platte River should be River should be hunted like hunted like wolves.wolves.

The Ft. Kearney Massacre

Sioux defeat Sioux defeat Federal troops Federal troops at Fort Kearney at Fort Kearney in Montana.in Montana.

1868 - Treaty of 1868 - Treaty of Fort Laramie ends Fort Laramie ends First Sioux War. First Sioux War.

Black Hills Black Hills reservation ceded reservation ceded to Chief Red to Chief Red CloudCloud

1871 - Indian 1871 - Indian Appropriations Act - Appropriations Act - makes Indians wards of makes Indians wards of the state - no longer the state - no longer sovereign peoples. Tribes sovereign peoples. Tribes divided among religious divided among religious groups to see to their groups to see to their civilizingcivilizing..

1873 - Modoc War - 1873 - Modoc War - Chief Kintpuash (Captain Chief Kintpuash (Captain Jack) leads Modoc tribes Jack) leads Modoc tribes against federal troops against federal troops after refusing to live on after refusing to live on Klamath Reservation. Klamath Reservation. Tribal leaders hung - Tribal leaders hung - Modocs removed to Modocs removed to Dakota reservation.Dakota reservation.

1874 - Troops under 1874 - Troops under Lt. Colonel George Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer Armstrong Custer discover gold in discover gold in Black Hills territory Black Hills territory of the Sioux, word is of the Sioux, word is spread - gold rush spread - gold rush follows.follows.

1876 - 77 = Second Sioux War - Gold 1876 - 77 = Second Sioux War - Gold prospectors enter Black Hills territory of prospectors enter Black Hills territory of the Sioux during the gold stampede of 1875 the Sioux during the gold stampede of 1875

                                                       

                    

Sioux go on warpath under leadership of Sioux go on warpath under leadership of Sitting Bull, a shaman, and Crazy Horse - Sitting Bull, a shaman, and Crazy Horse - war chief of combined Sioux and war chief of combined Sioux and Cheyenne.Cheyenne.

Sitting Bull

Crazy Horse

Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer

Custer's 7th Custer's 7th cavalry of 250 cavalry of 250 men attack 4000 men attack 4000 Indians at Little Indians at Little Big Horn River Big Horn River in Montanain Montana. .

News of "Custer's Last Stand" inflames News of "Custer's Last Stand" inflames public sentiment against Sioux nation.public sentiment against Sioux nation.

1877 - Crazy 1877 - Crazy Horse, forced Horse, forced by hunger, by hunger, surrenders and surrenders and is bayoneted to is bayoneted to death in death in prison.prison.

1877 - Chief 1877 - Chief Joseph of the Nez Joseph of the Nez Perce' fights U.S. Perce' fights U.S. Army under Army under Colonel Nelson Colonel Nelson Miles. Miles.

Chief Joseph Chief Joseph leads his people leads his people 1500 miles 1500 miles through Rockies through Rockies but is trapped 30 but is trapped 30 miles from safety miles from safety in Canada.in Canada.

Chief Joseph claims he Chief Joseph claims he will "fight no more will "fight no more forever." forever."

Nez Perce' sent to Nez Perce' sent to Oklahoma, all six of Oklahoma, all six of Joseph's sons die of Joseph's sons die of malaria, tribe is decimated.malaria, tribe is decimated.

“From where the sun now stands in the sky, I will fight no more forever.”

Let me be a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers,

free to think and talk and act for myself... - Chief Joseph, 1879

1878 - Dull Knife 1878 - Dull Knife Campaign - Cheyenne Campaign - Cheyenne warriors break out of warriors break out of the Oklahoma the Oklahoma reservation under Chief reservation under Chief Dull Knife and seek to Dull Knife and seek to return to hunting return to hunting grounds in the Montana grounds in the Montana Territory. Territory. “We Cheyenne are trying

to fight the whirlwind.”

They avoid capture for months but are They avoid capture for months but are killed off or captured before reaching killed off or captured before reaching Montana.Montana.

Exterminating the Buffalo

                            

Professional hunters, such as Buffalo Bill Cody, killed over a hundred animals at a single stand and many thousands in their career. One professional hunter killed over 20,000 by his own count.

In 1874, President In 1874, President Ulysses Ulysses S. GrantS. Grant "pocket vetoed" a  "pocket vetoed" a Federal bill to protect the Federal bill to protect the dwindling bison herds, and dwindling bison herds, and in in

1875 General Philip 1875 General Philip Sheridan pleaded to a joint Sheridan pleaded to a joint session of Congress to session of Congress to slaughter the herds, to slaughter the herds, to deprive the Indians of their deprive the Indians of their source of food.source of food.

By 1884, the American By 1884, the American Bison was close to Bison was close to extinction. extinction. General Philip SheridanGeneral Philip Sheridan

The current American The current American bison population has been bison population has been growing rapidly, and is growing rapidly, and is estimated at 350,000 estimated at 350,000 compared to an estimated compared to an estimated 60 to 100 million in the 60 to 100 million in the mid-19th century. mid-19th century.

1881 - Helen Hunt 1881 - Helen Hunt Jackson - writes A Jackson - writes A Century of Century of Dishonor, detailing Dishonor, detailing the governments the governments treatment of Indians. treatment of Indians.

Policy begins to Policy begins to force Indians to force Indians to "walk the white "walk the white man's road"man's road"

1884 - U.S. Government outlaws 1884 - U.S. Government outlaws the sacred Sun Dance rituals.the sacred Sun Dance rituals.

1886 - after fighting off 1886 - after fighting off the Army for years, the Army for years, Apache Chief Geronimo Apache Chief Geronimo surrenders at Skeleton surrenders at Skeleton Canyon to Nelson Canyon to Nelson Miles. Last of the Indian Miles. Last of the Indian Chiefs to surrender.Chiefs to surrender.

"I should have never surrendered. I should have fought

until I was the last man alive."

1887 - Dawes Severalty 1887 - Dawes Severalty Act passed - abolished Act passed - abolished tribal ownership, gave 160 tribal ownership, gave 160 acres of land to each Indian acres of land to each Indian to be held in trust for 25 to be held in trust for 25 years when "good" Indians years when "good" Indians would be given citizenship.would be given citizenship.

1890 - Dakota Sioux, in 1890 - Dakota Sioux, in reaction to the destruction of reaction to the destruction of their culture, began practicing their culture, began practicing the Ghost Dance- a belief that the Ghost Dance- a belief that bullets would no longer kill bullets would no longer kill them and that the buffalo them and that the buffalo would come back and the would come back and the white man would die off.white man would die off.

Wovoka

THE GHOST DANCE

Wounded Knee Massacre200 men, women 200 men, women

and children of the and children of the Dakota were killed Dakota were killed at Wounded Knee, at Wounded Knee, South Dakota South Dakota ending the last ending the last Indian uprising. Indian uprising.

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

The Mining Frontier

BOOM to BUST

Cowboys and Sodbusters

In answer to eastern need for In answer to eastern need for beef, cattlemen in Texas begin beef, cattlemen in Texas begin rounding up Texas Longhorn rounding up Texas Longhorn beeves from the Rio Grande beeves from the Rio Grande valley and driving them north.valley and driving them north.

Cattle Drives

Long Drives (1865 - 1887)

Followed four major trails: Followed four major trails: Goodnight-Loving, Goodnight-Loving, Western, Western, Chisholm, Chisholm, Sedalia-BaxterSedalia-Baxter

Ending in railroad junction towns Ending in railroad junction towns such as Dodge City, Abilene, such as Dodge City, Abilene, Cheyenne, Ogallala. Cheyenne, Ogallala.

Cowboys

Railroad expansion, Railroad expansion, Barbed Wire, and Barbed Wire, and the Winter of `87 led the Winter of `87 led to the demise of the to the demise of the great cattle drives, great cattle drives, trail riders gave way trail riders gave way to Cattlemen's to Cattlemen's Associations.Associations.

“Bob” Wire

The Winter of ‘87

Dead Man’s Hand

"The West is Dead My Friend...But the writers hold the seed and what they saw will live and grow again to those who read,"

The Homestead Act1862 - the Homestead Act - gave 160 1862 - the Homestead Act - gave 160

acres (1/4 section) to anyone who acres (1/4 section) to anyone who would inhabit and improve the land. would inhabit and improve the land.

500,000 families took advantage of 500,000 families took advantage of the act, 5 times as many purchased the act, 5 times as many purchased land from railroads, states or others.land from railroads, states or others.

Much of this newly Much of this newly acquired land was acquired land was west of the 100th west of the 100th meridian and 20" meridian and 20" precipitation line - precipitation line - led to massive failure led to massive failure of farms using of farms using eastern techniques.eastern techniques.

Sod Busters

New irrigation New irrigation techniques, steel techniques, steel plows, combines, plows, combines, extensive farming, extensive farming, new varieties of wheat new varieties of wheat made dry farming made dry farming possible in high possible in high plains. plains.

Created farming Created farming factories.factories.

Revolutionized farming Revolutionized farming led to increased output and led to increased output and lower prices - marginal lower prices - marginal farmers driven off the land.farmers driven off the land.

1880's 1/4 of all farms 1880's 1/4 of all farms operated by tenant farmers.operated by tenant farmers.

The "Farm Crisis"Locusts and Boll Locusts and Boll

WeevilsWeevilsDroughtsDroughtsMono-cropping Mono-cropping Soil depletion. Soil depletion. Floods Floods Soil erosion Soil erosion

Over taxation Over taxation Global Global

competition competition Over production Over production Middlemen Middlemen

Industrial Industrial farmers farmers

Railroads Railroads Money-supply Money-supply Bankers. Bankers.

1867 - founding of the 1867 - founding of the National Grange of the National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry (The Patrons of Husbandry (The Grange) by Owen H. Kelly Grange) by Owen H. Kelly

sought cooperative sought cooperative farming, anti-railroad farming, anti-railroad legislation, control of grain legislation, control of grain elevators. elevators.

800,000 members by 1875.800,000 members by 1875.

State Granger laws State Granger laws controlling railroads controlling railroads overturned by Wabash overturned by Wabash v. Illinois.v. Illinois.

1878 - Greenback Labor 1878 - Greenback Labor Party polls over a Party polls over a million votes - wins 14 million votes - wins 14 seats in the House. seats in the House.

1880 - Greenback Labor 1880 - Greenback Labor runs General James B. runs General James B. Weaver for president - Weaver for president - 3% of popular vote. 3% of popular vote.

Farmer's Alliance Farmer's Alliance founded in late 1880's - 1 founded in late 1880's - 1 million members by million members by 1890.1890.

Populist Party Populist Party originates in early originates in early 1890's - Mary E. 1890's - Mary E. Lease tells farmers Lease tells farmers to "raise less corn to "raise less corn and more Hell."and more Hell."

The People’s Party

A Parable of Populism

The End of the Frontier

1889 - Oklahoma territory opened to settlers 1889 - Oklahoma territory opened to settlers (Boomers) rush to claim land. (Boomers) rush to claim land.

Illegal entry was made by Sooners before the Illegal entry was made by Sooners before the opening - Oklahoma is the Sooner State.opening - Oklahoma is the Sooner State.

Turner’s Thesis1890 - U.S. Census superintendent 1890 - U.S. Census superintendent

claims the frontier line is gone.claims the frontier line is gone.1893 - Frederick Jackson Turner - 1893 - Frederick Jackson Turner -

claims the frontier had shaped the claims the frontier had shaped the American psyche - with the American psyche - with the "safety valve" gone, wither "safety valve" gone, wither America now?America now?

Frederick Jackson TurnerFrederick Jackson Turner

The Panic of 1893A depression A depression

begins in begins in 1893 that will 1893 that will last for about last for about four yearsfour years

It is the first major It is the first major depression of the modern depression of the modern industrial age.industrial age.

It was caused by It was caused by overbuilding, over overbuilding, over speculation, labor disorders, speculation, labor disorders, and agricultural depression.and agricultural depression.

Silver issue led to Silver issue led to poor credit for USpoor credit for US

banks failed, banks failed, businesses failed, businesses failed, thousands were thousands were out of work.out of work.

Charities set up soup kitchens Charities set up soup kitchens for the thousands of hoboes for the thousands of hoboes living in the streets.living in the streets.

The Federal government followed The Federal government followed laissez-faire policy, and did nothing.laissez-faire policy, and did nothing.

Gold PanicGold redemption of Silver Gold redemption of Silver

Purchase Act causes an Purchase Act causes an "endless chain" which "endless chain" which drains the Treasuries gold drains the Treasuries gold reserves below the $100 reserves below the $100 million needed to support million needed to support the $350 million of the $350 million of outstanding paper.outstanding paper.

Cleveland calls a Cleveland calls a special session of special session of Congress and Congress and seeks to repeal the seeks to repeal the Silver Purchase Silver Purchase Act.Act.

In the middle In the middle of the crisis the of the crisis the president has to president has to secretly have a secretly have a tumor removed tumor removed from his mouthfrom his mouth..

Congressional OppositionOpposition to the Opposition to the

repeal was led by the repeal was led by the Nebraska Democrat Nebraska Democrat William Jennings William Jennings Bryan, whose great Bryan, whose great oratory made him oratory made him famous throughout famous throughout the country.the country.

Cleveland was able Cleveland was able to use the power of to use the power of his office to get the his office to get the law repealed – but law repealed – but alienated the alienated the “Silverites” in the “Silverites” in the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party..

In 1894 the gold reserves In 1894 the gold reserves dropped to $41 million dollars dropped to $41 million dollars and the country was in danger and the country was in danger of going off the gold standard.of going off the gold standard.

Cleveland is forced to sell Cleveland is forced to sell bonds to raise gold reserves.bonds to raise gold reserves.

The “endless chain” The “endless chain” redemption continued to redemption continued to cause the treasury reserves to cause the treasury reserves to drop. drop.

The Depression deepened.The Depression deepened.

Coxey's Commonweal Army In the midst of the crisis In the midst of the crisis

a ragtag band of a ragtag band of unemployed calling unemployed calling themselves Coxey's themselves Coxey's Commonweal Army Commonweal Army marched on Washington marched on Washington to seek aid from the to seek aid from the government – their leader government – their leader Jacob Coxey was Jacob Coxey was arrested for trespassing.arrested for trespassing.

The Pullman StrikeViolent labor Violent labor

strikes followed strikes followed the the unemployment unemployment and hard times and hard times for the working for the working class.class.

In 1894, the Pullman In 1894, the Pullman company cut its workers company cut its workers wages by one-thirdwages by one-third

Eugene V. Debs led the Eugene V. Debs led the American Railway Union American Railway Union to strike against Pullman to strike against Pullman Palace Car Company.Palace Car Company.

Governor Governor Altgeld of Altgeld of Illinois urged Illinois urged restraint against restraint against strikers. strikers.

But the arch-But the arch-conservative Attorney conservative Attorney General Richard General Richard Olney called for the Olney called for the use of federal troops use of federal troops on the legal grounds on the legal grounds that the strike was that the strike was interfering with the interfering with the U.S. Mail.U.S. Mail.

President Cleveland sent in President Cleveland sent in the troops and the strike the troops and the strike was brutally crushed. was brutally crushed.

Eugene Debs is jailed and Eugene Debs is jailed and becomes a Socialist.becomes a Socialist.

Eugene V. Debs

The Pullman strike set a precedent The Pullman strike set a precedent for using court injunctions to end for using court injunctions to end labor strikes and break up unions.labor strikes and break up unions.

1894 Congressional Election

Republicans win the Republicans win the congressional election of congressional election of 1894 in a landslide and begin 1894 in a landslide and begin to boast that they will win the to boast that they will win the White House in ‘96.White House in ‘96.

Morgan Steps InBy 1895, the By 1895, the

deepening gold deepening gold crisis led Cleveland crisis led Cleveland to seek loans from to seek loans from Wall Street Wall Street bankers.bankers.

J.P. Morgan loans J.P. Morgan loans $65 million to $65 million to federal government, federal government, confidence is confidence is restored.restored.

The Banks will The Banks will earn $7 million in earn $7 million in interest.interest.

Populists are enraged by the defeat of Populists are enraged by the defeat of income tax and Cleveland’s sellout to income tax and Cleveland’s sellout to “Jupiter” Morgan.“Jupiter” Morgan.

The book The book Coin’s Coin’s Financial SchoolFinancial School becomes the bible of becomes the bible of free-silverites and free-silverites and Silver becomes the Silver becomes the issue of the Populist in issue of the Populist in 1896.1896.

1896 Election William McKinley, William McKinley,

"the Napoleon of "the Napoleon of Protection" gets Protection" gets Republican Republican nomination, aided by nomination, aided by "Hamiltonian" Mark "Hamiltonian" Mark Hanna's dollars. Hanna's dollars.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ARTdavenport.htm

Republicans declare for a Republicans declare for a bi-metal standard if bi-metal standard if accepted globally.accepted globally.

Democrats refuse to Democrats refuse to back Cleveland - back Cleveland - seen as traitorseen as traitor

William Jennings William Jennings Bryan makes "Cross Bryan makes "Cross of Gold" speech - He of Gold" speech - He gets the nomination. gets the nomination.

““You come to us and tell us that the You come to us and tell us that the great cities are in favor of the gold great cities are in favor of the gold standard. We reply that the great standard. We reply that the great cities rest upon our broad and fertile cities rest upon our broad and fertile prairies. Burn down your cities and prairies. Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic. But spring up again as if by magic. But destroy our farms, and the grass will destroy our farms, and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in grow in the streets of every city in the country.”the country.”

““You shall not You shall not press down upon press down upon the brow of labor the brow of labor this crown of this crown of thorns, you shall thorns, you shall not crucify not crucify mankind upon a mankind upon a cross of gold.”cross of gold.”

Democratic Platform endorses a 16:1 ratio for silver purchase.Democratic Platform endorses a 16:1 ratio for silver purchase. Conservative Democrats hoped for McKinley victory.Conservative Democrats hoped for McKinley victory. Most Populists endorsed Bryan, who goes on a national Most Populists endorsed Bryan, who goes on a national

speaking tour.speaking tour.

Gold Bugs give Gold Bugs give money to Hanna money to Hanna and McKinley, and McKinley, who runs a "front who runs a "front porch" campaignporch" campaign

McKinley defeats McKinley defeats Bryan for Bryan for Presidency.Presidency.

Fear of Fear of depression leads depression leads to Bryan’s defeat. to Bryan’s defeat.

The McKinley victory is seen The McKinley victory is seen as a win for big business, as a win for big business, financial conservatism and financial conservatism and middle class values. middle class values.

The 1896 election is seen as an The 1896 election is seen as an end of a political eraend of a political era..

1900 - Gold Standard Actpaper currency was to be redeemed paper currency was to be redeemed

freely in gold.freely in gold.New discoveries of gold in Yukon New discoveries of gold in Yukon

and South Africa led to increase in and South Africa led to increase in gold supply and money supply. gold supply and money supply.

Inflation killed Inflation killed expansionists claims for expansionists claims for silver standard. silver standard.

Farm prices rose and Farm prices rose and farmers were better off.farmers were better off.