Western Migration

Warm Up What were two major inventions of industrialization? How did they help change/modernize the United States? (Inventions of Industrialization)

#1 What was the Bessemer Steel Process?

#2 Who invented the light bulb?

#3 Who invented the telephone?

#4 How did the increasing amount of immigration into the US help to increase profits for factories?

#5 What was one major economic affect of the Railroads?

#6 Who built the Railroads (from west to east and east to west)?

#7 What is the transcontinental railroad? Where was its construction finally completed?

The American West (22 min)

Cultures Clash on the Prairie Great Plains – grassland extending through the west central portion of the United States

Native Americans Lived in small extended family groups Believed in spirits that controlled nature Believed land could not be owned

Settlers Push West Divide land for ownership, mine claims, and businesses. Native Americans didn’t “improve” the land, so they forfeited their rights Traveled on railroad and wagon trails to claim land.

Custer’s Last Stand

Gold Rush pushes Settlers West Gold discovered in Colorado in 1858 Mining towns filled with American settlers and immigrants.

Gov. Restricts Native Americans Native Americans restricted from hunting on ‘claimed land.’ Continued to hunt on traditional lands Clashed with miners and settlers.

Assimilation Assimilation – plan for Native Americans to give up their beliefs and way of life to be come part of white culture. Daws Act, 1887 Broke up Reservation land and assigned to families

Destruction of Buffalo

The Cattle Business Cowboys learn how to heard longhorns on the open range from Mexicans. Growth of cities increased the demand for beef. Shipped cattle along the railroad routes.

Cattle Towns Joseph McCoy created the first Cattle town. Cowboys would drive cattle north to cattle towns. Their cattle would be slaughtered, packaged and shipped to major urban settings.

Chisholm Trail Joseph McCoy created shipping yards where cattle trails and railway lines met. Abilene, KS Chisholm Trail – major cattle route from San Antonio, TX, through OK to KS.

The Oregon Trail

End of the Open Range The Era of the Cowboy ended quickly Ranching became big business Big Business took over and cut out the individual cowboy Overgrazing of the land Led to cattle shortages Extended bad weather Very dangerous to be a cowboy (struck by lightning, caught by tornadoes Invention of barbed wire Barbwire made it impossible for cowboys to drive cattle over long distances

Government Support Homestead Act, 1862 160 acres of land free to any citizen or intended citizen who was head of household Only about 10% of the land was actually settled by those intended Businesses, railroads, and state governments used land for their own gain.

Exodusters African Americans who moved from the South to Kansas

The Sooners Oklahoma land give-away in 1889 Some people took possession of land before it became available. They became known as Sooners. OK known as the Sooner state

The Indian Wars As more and more settlers moved west, conflict increased between Native Americans and settlers. In response to pleas and protest from settlers, the Federal Government sends troops out west, to clear the land and push the Native Americans back towards reservations

Little Bighorn Custer’s Last Stand- During a gold rush in the South Dakota, general Custer was sent to handle the Sioux and Cheyenne. Sitting Bull had a vision after holding a sun dance, he predicted soldiers would fall from their horse. General Custer and his men are slaughtered

The Battle of Wounded Knee After the defeat at Little Big Horn, the US sends large numbers of troops west At wounded Knee round up 350 Sioux and take them to camp, the following day a shot rang out, and the soldiers slaughter 300 including old people, women and children The Battle of Wounded Knee is the last resistance the Native Americans put up

Taming the Prairie

Midwest Farmers in trouble Economic Distress Greenback money was not valuable anymore. Railroad Troubles Lack of competition meant high prices to transport grain

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Farmers’ Alliances Grange – organization of farmers that fought railroads for affordable prices Purpose of the Grange How to organize together Farmers’ cooperatives How to sponsor state legislation

Populism Populist – political party of the people. Fought for economic reforms Increase in money supply Graduated income tax Federal loan program for farmers Eight hour workday Restrictions on Immigration

Populism

Panic of 1893 Economic panic due to rapid and irresponsible growth. By December 1894, 1/5 of workforce was unemployed.

The Populist Solution Bimetallism – using gold or silver to exchange for paper money.

Bryan’s “Cross of Gold” Populists joined with the Democratic party in the election of 1896. William Jennings Bryan won the democratic nomination with his “Cross of Gold” speech.

William Jennings Bryan

End of Populism Republican candidate William McKinley won the election. This defeat ushered the end of populism.