How can the government entice people to move to the Great Plains?
Essential Questions 1.Who migrated West and what problems did they experience? 2.How did the migration of people bring about change in the West?
Key Tensions Native Americans Buffalo Hunters Railroads U. S. Government CattlemenSheep Herders RanchersFarmers
Key Tensions Ethnic Minorities Nativists Environmentalists Big Business Interests [mining, timber] Local Govt. Officials Farmers Buffalo Hunters Lawlessness of the Frontier “Civilizing” Forces [The “Romance” of the West]
Essential Question: Who migrated to the West and What problems did they experience?
Railroad Construction
“The Big Four” Railroad Magnates Charles Crocker Mark Hopkins Leland Stanford Collis Huntington
Promontory Point, UT (May 10, 1869)
Railroads opened up opportunities for more people to move west Encouraged the building of towns and cities Provided a way to move goods to and from Eastern Cities Farmers hated the railroads because they charged super high shipping and storage rates (monopoly)
Pacific Railway Act Analyze the Pacific Railway Act by answering the questions provided.
"Wherever we put them, we found them good," Crocker recalled, "and they worked themselves into our favor to such an extent that if we found we were in a hurry for a job of work, it was better to put Chinese on at once."
The “Chinese Question” Exclusion Act (1882) - Oriental Exclusion Act - Chinese Exclusion Act
How did the Transcontinental Railroad Change America? What should we put in our introduction? Fill in the required information on your Essay Outline. Is there other information you want to include? –Make a note of that information.
Economic Opportunities for Farmers Problems: –Great Plains known as the Great American Desert –Not fit for anyone except the Native Americans Federal Government passed the Homestead Act –Gave 160 Acres to any individual for $10 registration fee –Had to live on and work the land for 5 years
Homestead Act Analyze the Homestead Act by answering the questions provided
Land Use: 1880s
Frontier Settlements:
Overcoming Problems John Deere – Steel Plow Cyrus McCormack – mechanical reaper Dry Farming – plant seed deep in ground were there was moisture Sod busters lived in Sod Houses – no trees
Effects –Made the Great Plains the most productive wheat- growing region in the world
1887 Land Promotion Poster for the Dakota Territories
Homesteads From Public Lands
New Agricultural Technology “Prairie Fan” Water Pump Steel Plow [“Sod Buster”]
What is the Message of this Picture? What is the Message of this Picture?
The Realty--A Pioneer’s Sod House, SD The Realty--A Pioneer’s Sod House, SD