Section 3: Life in the West

Terms & Names homestead: Mexicano: William “Buffalo Bill” Cody: “buffalo soldiers”:

1. Women in the West Pioneer life was harsh for women - stayed on the homestead Women who held jobs –teachers, servants, laundry, sewing, or ran dance halls and boarding houses Some women were sheriffs, gamblers, and outlaws Women in West had more right than the East Could own property, control their own money, and vote Ester Morris led the fight to give women the right to vote in Wyoming (1st state) Wyoming gained statehood in 1890 Abigail Duniway started a newspaper in Oregon to call for the right for women to vote 1900 – Women could vote in Colorado, Utah, and Idaho

2. The Rise of Western Cities Cities like Denver and San Francisco saw large jumps in population from gold and silver strikes Railroads also accounted for large population increase Meat-processing centers Fish, grain, lumber markets

3. Mexicanos in the Southwest Home of Spanish descendants from Mexico Spanish-speakers called Mexicanos White settlers were called Anglos by Mexicanos and they came for ranching, farming, and mining Anglos caused the loss of economic and political power for many Mexicanos The Anglos also took Mexicano land

4. The Myth of the Old West West – dangerous place filled with brave men and women Easterners bought “dime novels” – tales of daring adventures Heroes were sometimes real people, but plots were exaggerated or fiction Owen Wister – author of popular novels that spread myths about the wild west Native Americans were villains and African Americans weren’t mentioned Buffalo Bill Cody – owned a successful wild west show Life was really drab in the West

5. The Real West Cowhands, Mexican and Native American ranchers were not mentioned in myths, but played a large role African Americans served in military (Buffalo Soldiers) Chinese immigrants built railroads Myths made Native Americans look like bad guys, but overlooked broken treaties by white settlers Settlers needed gov’t help to remove Native Americans Gov’t also helped in building of railroads and gave land to homesteaders