Changes on the Western Frontier Chapter 13 Changes on the Western Frontier

The Culture of the Plains Indians Great Plains diverse cultures and languages moved freely, lives dominated by horses and buffalo largest group were the Lakota (Sioux)

Settlers Push Westward Congress passed the Homestead Act in 1862 offered 160 acres to those willing to farm land for five years newspapers promoted settlement Pacific Railway Act (1862) Diverse group of migrants “Exodusters” moved from the South to Kansas German, Irish, Dutch, Scandinavian, Russian many took land from Hispanic farmers

Clashing Values Whites Native Americans Individual interest Economy based on profit Nature should be conquered Community welfare Economy based on subsistence Live in harmony with nature

Federal Indian Policy White migration devastated the Native American population relocation from settlement, railroads disease (smallpox, cholera, measles) Federal government set aside land for reservations treaties were altered, not honored

Warfare and Dispossession Smaller tribes accepted terms of treaties, larger ones resisted warfare engulfed the plains from 1850s to 1880s Sand Creek Massacre (1864) over 200 killed (mostly women and children) Second Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868) led to temporary peace railroads continued to be built on “Indian lands” white hunters killed 4 million buffalo from 1872-74

The Sioux White miners began settling in the Black Hills in 1874 when gold was discovered the Sioux, under Sitting Bull, refused to leave Battle of Little Bighorn (1876) Sioux defeated Gen. George Armstrong Custer U.S. Army pursued the Sioux, defeated them in 1877

Assimilation Government sought to change Native Americans’ way of life forced to accept government orders, “or starve” Dawes Act (1887) divided tribal lands among individuals promote capitalism, discourage communal practices remaining land sold to settlers White activists sought to destroy Indian culture missionaries attempted to convert to Christianity boarding schools were established to discourage traditional ways of life Helen Hunt Jackson- “A Century of Dishonor” (1881)

Wounded Knee Massacre (1890) Sioux faced continuing hardships starvation, disease, restrictions on movement Ghost Dance movement spread, caused concern among American military leaders Sitting Bull was killed during a raid in December 1890 Army killed over 300 Sioux at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota on December 29

Cowboys and the Cattle Frontier Demand for cattle increased Abilene, KS became a “cattle center” other “cow towns” developed, many became large cities “long drives” along the Chisholm Trail Ranches emerged across the West, cattle industry became corporate myth of the “cowboy”

The West of Life and Legend The “Wild West” was romanticized in literature Kit Carson, Mark Twain, “Buffalo Bill” In reality, the West was dominated by corporations, not “rugged individuals” cowboys worked long hours, performed difficult work

The Mining Frontier Gold discovered in the Rocky Mountains in 1859 more strikes followed in the 1860s (silver, lead, copper) Camps grew into “boomtowns” overwhelmingly male (“Saloon society”, prostitution, violence, racism) Initially, mining was an independent enterprise technology and capital investment turned it into a corporate industry devastating environmental impact

The First Transcontinental Railroad Pacific Railway Act (1862) Union Pacific/Central Pacific railroads received land grants and financial subsidies much of the labor was performed by Chinese immigrants Lines met at Promontory Point, Utah on May 10, 1869

New Farms, New Markets Farming for homesteaders was difficult “dry farming” techniques (wheat) Technology changed farming barbed wire protected livestock grain elevators, plows, machinery railroads provided transport for products Oklahoma Land Rush (1889) “boomers” and “sooners” claimed 2 million acres of land in “Indian Territory”

Challenges of the Plains Life in the West was challenging settlers lived in sod homes women’s work was demanding settlers were isolated churches provided a sense of community Morrill Land Grant Acts (1862, 1890) financed agricultural colleges small farmers had difficulty competing with bonanza farms, fell into debt

Farmers Unite Price of farm products plummeted overproduction, decline in foreign demand Farmers pushed for increased money supply Oliver Kelley formed the Grange in 1867 offered information, support to farmers worked to pass laws fixing maximum freight rates

The Populist Party Populists met in 1892 to organize national party Developed the Omaha Platform govt. ownership of railroads, telegraph and telephone systems national currency issued by the government (not banks) bimetallism graduated income tax redistribution of land owned by railroads and corporations popular election of senators James Weaver nominated for president, won over a million votes had more success in state-level elections

The Panic of 1893 Depression began in 1893, following Grover Cleveland’s reelection Cleveland rejected government action to solve social or economic problems high unemployment, starvation, homelessness the functions of the government “do not include the support of the people”

Free Silver Depression continued, silver became the main issue in the country Democrats nominated William Jennings Bryan in 1896 adopted many Populist policies (bimetallism) Populists reluctantly supported Democratic ticket

1896: Republicans Triumphant Republicans nominate William McKinley millions of dollars contributed by business interests Bryan campaigned across the country, speaking to millions “Cross of Gold” speech McKinley’s campaign successfully orchestrated by industrialist Mark Hanna McKinley wins, running a “Front Porch” campaign