Unit 3 Westward Movement

America’s Last Frontier Frontier – line separating areas of denser settlement from “unsettled” territory Great Plains – rolling, treeless plains that stretched from Texas to North Dakota Many Americans thought this to be dessert area, but in fact the soil was extremely fertile

Westward Settlement Push and Pull Factors A Push Factor pushes people to leave a place (examples – war, drought, religious persecution, ethnic prejudice) Example - African Americans fleeing the South to escape ethnic prejudice A Pull Factor attracts people to a place (examples – hope of religious freedom, economic opportunity) Example - Workers leaving the east to build the transcontinental railroad

Relocation of American Indians As settlers moved west, they came into conflict with Native Americans The U.S. Congress had ordered the removal of all Indians in Southeastern states in 1830 to west of the Mississippi River – this becomes know as the “Trail of Tears” “Indian Wars” of 1864-1890: Indians were asked to move again after the transcontinental railroad was completed “Buffalo Soldiers” were sent west to protect the settlers. Heavy fighting ensued as Indians were forced to move to smaller chunks of land know as reservations where they were forced to stay

Native American Tragedies The Sioux were forced to flee to the Black Hills of South Dakota – U.S. agrees to abandon forts nearby Gold is discovered in the Black Hills The Sioux were asked to move out of the Black Hills – Sitting Bull encourages them not to leave. This leads to General Custer and his 700 men being killed by Crazy Horse and his men at Little Big Horn The Sioux begin the “Ghost Dance” believing it will restore their lands and the buffalo – U.S. mistakes it for a war dance, and massacre 200 with rapid-fire artillery – this final tragedy is know as Wounded Knee.

Cheap Land The Homestead Act of 1862 promised settlers 160 acres of land for $1.65/acre or for free if they farmed it for 5 years. To attract settlers, the railroads offered land for cheap prices The U.S. government sold 2 million acres of land in Oklahoma in America’s first and greatest “land run” This land had previously been set aside as part of an Indian reservation

Evolution of the American West Mining for minerals produced overnight “boom towns” These towns were filled with mostly men, looking to make a quick profit. Laws were slow to develop, so violence was controlled by “vigilantes” After the available mineral deposits were exhausted, they became “ghost towns”

Evolution of the American West The Cattle Kingdom” was a short-lived boom Cowboys would drive wild longhorn cattle north toward the railroad lines to be shipped east to Chicago for slaughter This “long drive” relied on “open range” lands for the cattle to drink water and eat grass from Once much of the land was owned, the landowners would put up barbed wire fencing to keep animals and cowboys off their land Once railroads reached Texas, ranchers would raise cattle on their fenced lands (closed range), then send the cattle east to be slaughtered

Evolution of the American West Most citizens that moved West, went for farming These farmers faced many obstacles (Indians, cattlemen, weather) Many gave up and moved back East, those that stayed used their brains and brawn to overcome the obstacles

Mistreatment of Indians The U.S. wanted to “Americanize” the Indians – while good intentioned, traditional Indian culture became endangered The Dawes Act – offered 160 acres of reservation land to each male Indian. Also guaranteed U.S. citizenship to those that accepted this offer This countered traditional Indian culture of communal farming Indians began selling their 160 acres to speculators to earn some money. This caused many Indians to leave their reservations for job opportunities in the bigger cities.