The Great West and the Agricultural Revolution 1865 - 1896 Pageant Chapter 26

1. Conquest of the Plains Indians 1865 – The Civil War has come to a close, America is still moving westward However by 1890 pioneers would once again rush for the Great West, the territories of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma In the path of the white pioneers was 360,000 Native Americans Conflict was inevitable between the industrializing republic and the highly evolved and well adapted tribes Whites basically invaded Indian territory, all the while spreading infectious diseases while also turning tribes against each other The U.S. government would sign treaties with Native Americans and force them onto reservations thinking they would be happy as an “independent” nation, but they just didn’t understand the Natives 1) Natives didn’t recognize any authority outside their immediate family 2) Natives didn’t understand the concept of settling and staying in one place; they were nomadic

1. Conquest of the Plains Indians 1860s – 1880s – Treaties would be violated by both parties over the years During this time, the United States would come into conflict with three prominent tribes 1) Sioux – Sitting Bull; Dakota Territory 2) Nez Perce – Chief Joseph; northeastern Oregon 3) Apache – Geronimo; Arizona and New Mexico

Sitting Bull

Chief Joseph

Geronimo

The United States - 1865

1. Conquest of the Plains Indians Three factors led to the ultimate demise of Native American culture in the Great West 1) Disease 2) Increased contact / conflict with white settlers due to the transcontinental RR 3) The near extinction of the buffalo; of which there were 15 million roaming the West by 1865 There were some humanitarians who wanted to help the Natives The Dawes Severalty Act – 1887 1) Provisions – Dissolved tribes as legal entities; gave Natives a 25 yr probation period before becoming citizens and owning former properties 2) Results – Native population started to rise slowly; 243,000 in 1887 to 1.5 million by 2000

2. Western Economy Mining was a major part of the American West’s economy Gold, silver, copper, etc. Comstock Lode Silver Deposits in Nevada Cattle and agriculture were important as well Refrigerated RR cars allowed cattle to reach big eastern cities like Chicago The RR brought a massive lot of farmers out west Homestead Act in 1862 gave settlers land to cultivate; population out west will increase The problem? Much of the land in the West was too dry to farm.

3. The Frontier Analyzed 1890 The West has “come of age” The Frontier doesn’t really exist Oklahoma, which used to be Indian Territory is now being settled The census of 1890 Frederick Jackson Turner; historian; wrote a thesis about how the pioneer experience was coming to an end, and was a major shaper of American values

3. The Frontier Analyzed 1) It was a place that people could go, get land, and start over if they failed in cities 2) It was a place where cultures could mean; White-Americans could meet Hispanics, Asians, Natives, etc. 3) It was a place where the American government has used a great deal of authority (land grants, subsidies, etc.)

4. Farmers and Populist Sentiment Farmers still made up 50% of the population in 1890 With the rise of entrepreneurs and industry, farmers will become victimized and taken advantage of They slowly begin to unite 1867 – The National Grange forms; to improve the treatment and the plight of the American farmer 1870s – The Greenback Labor Party forms to support farmers 1880s – The Farmer’s Alliance 1890s – The Populists

4. Farmers and Populist Sentiment The four main elements of the Populist Party were: 1) Nationalizing RRs, phones, and telegraphs 2) Instituting a graduated income tax 3) Free unlimited coinage of silver 4) Special loans for farmers to store their crops in gov’t warehouses

5. 1893 Depression Economic crash happens in 1890s Unemployment goes up Embittered workers and farmers protest Jacob S. Coxey leads a famous protest march in 1894 Eugene V. Debs leads a strike in Chicago against the Pullman Palace Car Company The strike was so bad it halted the postal service and President Grover Cleveland ordered federal troops to put it down

6. Watershed Election of 1896 1896 The Presidential Election of 1896 sees a nation that has grown but has a great deal of issues Class friction Workers and farmers vs. the business class Republicans – William McKinley Campaign was funded by Alonzo Hanna Democrats – Nebraska – William Jennings Bryan His Cross of Gold speech gave him popularity McKinley wins the presidency

6. Watershed Election of 1896 Why was this election so significant? The Election of 1896 symbolized a victory for big business, middle class values, and industry. Agrarian farmers had lost their powerful political sway.