WESTWARD MIGRATION

Westward Migration Americans began moving west Comstock Lode More economic opportunities Wheat, corn Farm mechanization made it easier Steel plow, spring tooth harrow, threshers, windmills Comstock Lode First silver ore found East was growing quickly, needed food Others went west for religious reasons Mormon Trail First led by Joseph Smith (New York) Led into Utah by Brigham Young

Oregon Trail

Mormon Trail

Homestead Act 1862 US gov’t encouraged westward migration Offered 160 acres of land to settlers and had to farm for 5 years Not enough land due to drought Could acquire additional land (Timber Culture Act) Cost $5 registration fee Encouraged white settlers to move west Most were old immigrants Women were allowed to homestead

Morrill Land Grant 1862 US federal gov’t gave western lands to states States sold land Money was used to build agriculture and technical colleges Examples: Virginia Tech and NC State

Difficulties of Living in the West Remote, solitary life Worked 68 hours week Very difficult for women Same work as men Gained suffrage here first Built churches and schools Little House on the Prairie-family values, love, friendship, and faith.

Homesteaders Living in a Soddie

Impact of White Settlers Native Americans were displaced Conflict began More railroads were built New States were added to Union Most gave women suffrage Last state-Oklahoma Settlers rushed in to get the last free land in US Far and Away

Railroads First transcontinental railroad completed in 1869 Promontory Point, Utah Built mainly by Irish and Chinese immigrants Displaced the Native Americans Could no longer follow the buffalo Native Americans used every part of buffalo ‘Native American Wal-Mart’ Time zones

Transcontinental Railroad

Buffalo

Plains Indians Sioux-northern plains Five Civilized Tribes (OK-1830) Other tribes as well Different lifestyles Followed buffalo herds 32m in 1870, 9m. Killed 1872-1875 Some were sedentary

Reservation System Indians were placed here by federal gov’t Offered annual monetary payments in lieu of land Occasionally, federal gov’t failed to make payments or reduced the size of reservation Indians resisted, led to war

Conflicts between Whites and Native Americans First Major Conflict Sand Creek Massacre 1864 Peace between Northern Cheyenne and Colorado Militia Colorado Militia decides to slaughter 150 Native Americans It’s On!!!!!!

Teton Sioux 1866 Defended hunting land Fraudulent treaty Killed American cavalry Mutilated the bodies Americans called for new techniques to deal with the “Indian problem”

Buffalo Soldiers African American Troop Regiment Created during the Civil War Fights in the Indian Wars African Americans can now fight for a country that recognizes them as people!

Battle of Little Big Horn 1876 Native Americans joined forces Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse Fought with General Custer at Little Big Horn Native Americans massacred all American Troops Only major Native American victory

Little Big Horn

Sitting Bull Colonel George A. Custer

Chief Joseph Leader of Nez Perces (Oregon) Sent to OK after Little Big Horn Wanted to return to Oregon Refused permission Denied food and water Attempted to escape to Canada Captured by US Army “From where the sun now stands, I shall fight no more forever”

Save the Indians Carlise Indian School Help Indians become successful in white society Assimilation Helen Hunt Jackson’s A Century of Dishonor dramatized the federal government's mistreatment of Native Americans in the west

Helen Hunt Jackson

Dawes Act 1887 Result of Jackson’s book Would create Indian farmers Gave each family 160 acres of land Dealt with individual Indians, not tribe Sold remaining land and purchased farm equipment Became citizens in 25 years Most Indians lost property within one generation Received the poor land

Ghost Dance Believed that Native American ancestors would be resurrected Ancestors would help Natives ‘obtain their rightful place and regain land lost to white man Scared soldiers

Ghost Dance

Wounded Knee Massacre 1891 Last conflict between Whites and Native Americans Indians were fired upon at Wounded Knee Women, children and elderly were all killed

A mass grave used after the Battle of Wounded Knee

Result for Indians Helen Hunt Jackson-A Century of Dishonor Gained support for Native Americans Led to the Dawes Act Land for Native Americans Called for assimilation Native Americans should act, dress etc. like White Americans

Miners Precious metals were discovered out West Mining towns sprang up Little law enforcement in these areas

Cowboys New cities caused a need for beef Individuals out west began to raise cattle First, started to drive cattle to major cities, then cattle would be loaded onto trains Later, ranches would be built Cowboys were hired Most owned their own horses Open Range ended because of Barbed Wire Cows could be fenced in thanks to Joseph Glidden’s invention

Ranches and Cowboys

Farmers Faced many problems after they moved West Drought Insects Difficult conditions New technology helped some Steel Plow Mechanical Reaper Windmill

Famers continued Blamed problems on railroads Had to transport goods on trains Railroads charged high rates Even higher for short haul versus long haul Penalized the farmer Wanted government to regulate railroads Lower freight charges Government did not respond

Money Problems Farmers also faced problems with credit Stayed in debt Borrowed money to plant crops every year Could not always repay bank If not, bank foreclosed on property Farmers wanted more money printed and put into circulation Demanded the silver standard Print money based on gold and silver standard Would increase the cost of farm goods

The Grange Farmers organized The Grange Led by Oliver Kelley Officially asked government to address farmers needs Were not successful

Populist Party Organized in 1892 Met in Omaha Nebraska Omaha Platform 8 Hour workday Silver Standard Direct Election of Senators Won elections in state government, sent representatives to Congress

Populists and Democrats Merge Populist party merged with Democrats in 1896 Democrats argued the same issues as Populists Nominated William Jennings Bryan Campaigned across America Gave “Cross of Gold” speech “you cannot crucify man on a cross of gold” Advocated the silver standard

William Jennings Bryan

Election of 1896 and 1900 Bryan ran against William McKinley (rep) Bryan campaigned across US on train Whistle stop campaign McKinley ran the “Front Porch” campaign Voters came to see him on his front porch McKinley wins both elections Marks the end of the Populist Party

Election of 1896