Chapter 5 Changes on the Western Frontier

Culture of the Plains Indians The Great Plains –The Dakotas, Kansas, etc… –Grasslands, nomadic natives, etc… The Horse and the Buffalo - Horses improved hunting and effective fighting tactics, etc.. Family Life -Traditional (men hunted, women prepared) -Sharing was key -Very democratic (tribe counsel made decisions)

Settlers Push Westward Land Claims –Whites ‘claimed’ this land b/c they said the natives weren’t “improving” it. The Lure of Silver and Gold - Ppl. flocked to these areas to seek fortunes (many immigrants, women, etc..) - Small towns devel. Into cities (boomtowns), many of which are still thriving today.

The Government Restricts Native Americans Massacre at Sand Creek Death on the Bozeman Trail –Treaty of Fort Laramie –Sitting Bull

Bloody Battles Continue Red River War –Army crushed resistance on the plains by destroying villages, killing all warriors… Gold Rush –Gold discovered in Black Hills, natives forced out (again!) Custer’s Last Stand –Crazy Horse kills Custer and troops (“Custer’s Last Stand”), but ultimately natives forced to surrender.

The Government Supports Assimilation What is Assimilation –“Americanize” the natives, ‘Christianize’ them, force them to lose their native identities. The Dawes Act –Give 160 acres to natives who wanted to work the land –Gov. sold the remainder of reserv. Land to white settlers. Natives never got a dime from the sale of their land. Destruction of Buffalo –Sport hunting decimated the population

The Battle of Wounded Knee The Sioux Indians –A Ghost Dance prompts soldiers to arrest Sitting Bull and demand all weapons turned over. Wounded Knee –300 unarmed N.Amer. slaughtered, many children… –This “Battle” brought an end to the Indian Wars.

Cattle Becomes Big Business Vaqueros and Cowboys –Raising longhorns in Texas, many found lucrative jobs…a big industry developed. Growing Demand for Beef –Rise in pop. / city growth = prices soared. The Cow Town –Trails like the Chisholm became main routes for ‘the long drive’.

A Day in the Life of a Cowboy A day’s Work –10 – 14 hr. days –Dangerous work*The Long Drive Roundup*The End of the The Long Drive Open Range

Gold Mining Panning –Cheapest/most common way to go Sluices and Rockers –More efficient way but heavy and difficult A Family Affair –The kids, wives, worked along-side. –Diff. life where less than 1% became rich. –Big winners in all of this were merchants and store owners who sold stuff to the miners and their families.

Settlers Move Westward to Farm Railroads Open the West –Many found employmt. Building the RR. –1869 – transcontinental RR. finished Gov. Supports Settlement –Homestead Act – 600K families get free land to farm. many were exodusters – (freedmen) –“Sooners” take advantage of 2 million acres of free land in OK. The Closing of the Frontier –No longer a ‘frontier’, as most land in U.S. had been “settled”, RR. Spanned the continent, and Nat. Parks erected to conserve national treasures.

Farmers Unite to Address Common Problems Economic Distress –Prices fell and money supply declines, leading to deflation Problems with the Railroads –RR charging exorbitant fees for transport b/c they were a monopoly. Seed and other necessities=expensive… …farmers go into debt. They form “The Grange” and begin to fight the RR and organize. Farmers’ Alliances –Become a powerful force in politics (4 million members)

The Rise and Fall of Populism The Populist Party Platform (AKA “The People’s Party”) –Increase the money supply which would raise prices of their grain. –Increase taxes, esp. for the wealthy –An 8-hour workday Panic of 1893 –Economy crashed; Railroads, banks, and over 15,000 businesses went bankrupt –25% unemployment

The Rise and Fall of Populism (cont.) Silver or Gold –Money backed by silver and gold = more cash in circulation. Dollars backed by gold only (The Gold Standard) provides a more stable currency but not enough cash to go around (opposite of inflation) Bryan and the “Cross of Gold” –He was favored by Populists who argued that the gold std. would continue to hurt the working class and farm ers. The End of Populism –McKinley won the Rep. election over Bryan; populist i ssues were abandoned…for now.

Literature of the West Style Influences from society Inspirations