Westward Westward Expansion:Expansion:

Moving WestMoving West

Reasons why people moved west Reasons why people moved west after the Civil Warafter the Civil War

In the East, farmland was expensiveIn the East, farmland was expensive Poor people could not buy their own landPoor people could not buy their own land Sharecropping was how many poor whites and ex-Sharecropping was how many poor whites and ex-

slaves had to farmslaves had to farm In the west was “wide open” areas –especially In the west was “wide open” areas –especially

the Great Plains where “only” some Indians the Great Plains where “only” some Indians livedlived

Gold and silver was discovered – drawing Gold and silver was discovered – drawing people who wanted to get rich quickpeople who wanted to get rich quick

More Reasons for Moving WestMore Reasons for Moving West

Mountain Men and Trappers had been moving Mountain Men and Trappers had been moving west since Colonial timeswest since Colonial times Still chance to make money – animals were still Still chance to make money – animals were still

abundantabundant Millions of buffalo lived on the Great Plains – easy Millions of buffalo lived on the Great Plains – easy

to kill and hides worth money back eastto kill and hides worth money back east Sense of adventure and freedomSense of adventure and freedom Chance to start a new life – outlaws or in debtChance to start a new life – outlaws or in debt

Manifest DestinyManifest Destiny Americans, stirred by their hunger for land and the Americans, stirred by their hunger for land and the

ideology of “Manifest Destiny,” flocked to the new ideology of “Manifest Destiny,” flocked to the new frontiers.frontiers.

Manifest Destiny means an obvious fate of the Untied Manifest Destiny means an obvious fate of the Untied States to grow and become powerful regardless of States to grow and become powerful regardless of who or what was in their way – Indians, buffalo, who or what was in their way – Indians, buffalo, MexicansMexicans

Conflicts between American settlers and Indian Conflicts between American settlers and Indian nations in the Southeast and the old Northwest nations in the Southeast and the old Northwest resulted in the relocation of many Indians to resulted in the relocation of many Indians to reservations.reservations.

Westward ExpansionWestward Expansion

American migration into Texas led to an American migration into Texas led to an armed revolt against Mexican rule and a armed revolt against Mexican rule and a famous battle at the Alamo, in which a band of famous battle at the Alamo, in which a band of Texans fought to the last man against a vastly Texans fought to the last man against a vastly superior force. The Texans’ eventual victory superior force. The Texans’ eventual victory over Mexican forces subsequently brought over Mexican forces subsequently brought Texas into the Union.Texas into the Union.

Manifest Destiny: Mexican Manifest Destiny: Mexican American WarAmerican War

The United States fought Mexico in the The United States fought Mexico in the Mexican-American War in the 1840sMexican-American War in the 1840s

This was due in large part the the desire of This was due in large part the the desire of Mexican held landsMexican held lands

The American victory in the war led to the The American victory in the war led to the addition of an enormous territory that included addition of an enormous territory that included the present-day states of California, Nevada, the present-day states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado, and Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado, and New Mexico.New Mexico.

Impact on the American IndiansImpact on the American Indians

During this period of westward expansion, the During this period of westward expansion, the settlers repeated wanted Indian land – leading to settlers repeated wanted Indian land – leading to fights and warsfights and warsThe American Indians were repeatedly defeated The American Indians were repeatedly defeated in violent conflicts with settlers and soldiers and in violent conflicts with settlers and soldiers and removed from their lands.removed from their lands.Many atrocitiesMany atrocities

Trail of TearsTrail of Tears

One of most famous is the Trail of TearsOne of most famous is the Trail of Tears Cherokees and other tribes were removed Cherokees and other tribes were removed

from their homes in winter and rorced to from their homes in winter and rorced to march far away from their homes to march far away from their homes to OklahomaOklahoma

Many died – old people, women, childrenMany died – old people, women, children Came through MissouriCame through Missouri Many of us have Cherokee blood from Many of us have Cherokee blood from

those abandoned herethose abandoned here

ReservationsReservations

Many other tribes forced to reservations – land Many other tribes forced to reservations – land supposed to be set aside for Indianssupposed to be set aside for Indians

Generally poor land, no hunting, not good for Generally poor land, no hunting, not good for cropscrops

Indians often starved and died of diseaseIndians often starved and died of disease

The Homestead Act of 1862

•The Homestead Act gave public lands (lands owned by the national government) to American citizens

Homestead ActHomestead Act Law signed by Lincoln in 1862Law signed by Lincoln in 1862 For a small fee a person could obtain 160 acres for For a small fee a person could obtain 160 acres for

freefree But not really free – were some rulesBut not really free – were some rules

At least 21 years old or head of a familyAt least 21 years old or head of a family American citizen or immigrant filing for citizenshipAmerican citizen or immigrant filing for citizenship Build house a minimum size (12 feet by 14 feet)Build house a minimum size (12 feet by 14 feet) Live in house 6 months out of yearLive in house 6 months out of year Farm land 5 yrs in a row before ownership setFarm land 5 yrs in a row before ownership set

372,000 new farms - 600,000land claims – 80 million acres

In the photos above, the blue square represents one acre. 

Effects:

• The Homestead Act helped poor families who could not afford land in the eastern states.

• It gave unemployed workers a chance to find work on land of their own.

Daniel Freeman Standing, Holding Gun, with Hatchet Tucked in Belt,The "first homesteader" to settle in Beatrice, Nebraska, 1863.

• Thousands of African-Americans moved west in 1879 in an effort to find a better life.

• This was known as the “Exodus of 1879”, and the participants were called “Exodusters”.

Indians fought back…Indians fought back…

As Indians lost more and more land, they As Indians lost more and more land, they fought back – losing almost all their battles – fought back – losing almost all their battles – and they did lose the warand they did lose the war Sandy Creek Massacre (1864) - ColoradoSandy Creek Massacre (1864) - Colorado Battle of Little Big Horn (1876) – Dakotas, Battle of Little Big Horn (1876) – Dakotas,

Wyoming and MontanaWyoming and Montana Battle of Wounded Knee (1890) – South DakotaBattle of Wounded Knee (1890) – South Dakota

The Black HillsThe Black Hills A treaty was A treaty was

signed between signed between the U.S. the U.S. government and government and Lakota leaders.Lakota leaders.

The treaty gave The treaty gave the Black Hills the Black Hills reservation to the reservation to the Lakota people Lakota people forever. forever.

Gold miners illegally Gold miners illegally rushed onto the rushed onto the

reservation when gold reservation when gold was discovered.was discovered.

The Battle of Little The Battle of Little BighornBighorn

George George Custer was to Custer was to defeat the defeat the Lakota and Lakota and force them force them onto a new onto a new reservation. reservation.

Crazy Horse helped lead the Crazy Horse helped lead the Lakota to victory at the Battle Lakota to victory at the Battle

of Little Bighorn.of Little Bighorn.

George Custer and his men were all killed. This George Custer and his men were all killed. This battle was known as “Custer’s Last Stand.”battle was known as “Custer’s Last Stand.”

Why was the battle Why was the battle important?important? It was the biggest victory Native It was the biggest victory Native

Americans ever won over United Americans ever won over United States forces.States forces.

It led to the end of freedom for It led to the end of freedom for Native Americans of the Great Plains.Native Americans of the Great Plains.

What then…What then… The United States sent more The United States sent more

soldiers to the Black Hills and soldiers to the Black Hills and forced the Lakota to a new forced the Lakota to a new reservation.reservation.

The Black Hills were open to gold The Black Hills were open to gold miners and settlers from the miners and settlers from the United States.United States.

Battlefield at Wounded Battlefield at Wounded KneeKnee

When the Lakota surrendered, someone fired a When the Lakota surrendered, someone fired a shot.shot.

About 300 Lakota were killed. About 300 Lakota were killed.

The Battle at Wounded The Battle at Wounded KneeKnee

The last major conflict between the The last major conflict between the United States and Native Americans United States and Native Americans occurred at Wounded Knee, South occurred at Wounded Knee, South Dakota.Dakota.

Lakota families decided to leave their Lakota families decided to leave their reservation.reservation.

After being surrounded by U.S. After being surrounded by U.S. soldiers, the Lakota decided to soldiers, the Lakota decided to surrender.surrender.

Gold and Silver Strikes

The CA Gold Rush began in 1849, attracting thousands of gold hunters known as forty-niners.

Major "Strikes" in the California Gold RushIn 1852 the take for the year was $80 million ($1.9 billion in 2005 dollars).

Sutter's Mill/Coloma - Jan. 24, 1848James Marshall kicked off the California gold rush when he spotted some pea-sized bits of gold in a mill raceway. The news brought thousands of prospectors to the area, but neither Marshall nor his employer John Sutter prospered from the find.

Gold and silver mines were discovered throughout the West.

Thousands of miners from the U.S., Europe, Mexico, and China flocked to the West.

White and Chinese miners hoping to strike it rich during the California Gold Rush at Auburn Ravine in 1852.

CowboysCowboys

Buffalo were in the way Buffalo were in the way of railroads and settlers of railroads and settlers so had to be removedso had to be removed

Also, hides worth Also, hides worth money back eastmoney back east

25 million buffalo killed 25 million buffalo killed (1840-1889)(1840-1889)

Replaced with cattle – Replaced with cattle – and rise of the cowboyand rise of the cowboy

Reasons for rise of cattle industry

·After the Civil War, growing cities in the East increased their demand for beef.

Some cattle had gotten lose in Texas and during the war had been forgotten – so large herds developed and were available for the taking

Railroads had reached Kansas, where cattle could be shipped east

Texas ranchers began to drive herds of longhorns hundreds of miles north to the railroads, where they were shipped east.

· Cow towns developed near the railroads, offering cowhands hotels, saloons, and restaurants.

Abilene, Kansas (late 1800’s)

The spread of farming, as well as harsh weather, destroyed the cattle boom by 1887.

Hundreds of miles of barbed wire were strung across the state in the 1880s, forever changing the character of the frontier and bringing a measure of management to the cattle industry.

· Railroad companies raced to lay tracks to the mines in order to supply the miners.

The Transcontinental Railroad

.. x

Omaha, Nebraska

Sacramento, California

Promontory Point, Utah

Union Pacific Railroad

Central Pacific

Railroad

· In 1863, two companies, the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific, began building the first transcontinental railroad.

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· Labor was scarce due to the hard, dangerous work and low pay.

· Therefore, immigrant labor was used.

Union Pacific - hired many Irish immigrants

Central Pacific - approximately 90% of their workforce were Chinese immigrants

Immigrant Workers

Chinese railroad workers perform their duties in the snow.

· The workers endured scorching deserts, blinding snowstorms, and blasted through mountains.

Transcontinental RailroadTranscontinental Railroad

The Transcontinental Railroad The Transcontinental Railroad Completed in May 10, 1869 at Promontory Completed in May 10, 1869 at Promontory

Point Utah. The railroads cut travel time west Point Utah. The railroads cut travel time west from six months to six days!from six months to six days!

On May 10, 1869, a golden spike was hammered into a track joining the two tracks in Promontory Point, UT.