FOUNDATION WORK How does the Battle of Wounded Knee suggest the idea of American Imperialism?

15.3: Transforming the West

THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD ______________________________________________________________________________ THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD Transcontinental Railroad: Defined: the railroad that linked the American East to the American West. Congress in support of the railroad: Loaned money to privately owned railroad industries. Land Grants: Defined: land designated by the federal government for building schools, roads, and railroads. (contributes to the GROWTH OF AMERICAN CITIES) ______________________________________________________________________________ THE THREE LEGGED STOOL OF INDUSTRY & THE RAILROAD The Human Cost of Building and the 2nd Chinese Immigrant Experience Harsh contracts Little regard for safety (Explosions!)

THE STORY OF THE GROWTH OF THE AMERICAN CITIES ______________________________________________________________________________ THE STORY OF THE GROWTH OF THE AMERICAN CITIES With the nation tied together, thanks to the railroad… Resources: Timber, Iron, Cotton, etc. People: Coming from all across the nation. … were moved all across the country… ... With resources and people moving across the nation… There was a growth of towns and cities. People encouraged their towns be nearby the railroads (a pit stop). … However… ... A cost was paid… The demand of “Open Land” (What is this open land that’s suggested?) Discomfort by the Mexican American community.

HOMESTEAD ACT OF 1862 & THE EXODUSTERS ______________________________________________________________________________ HOMESTEAD ACT OF 1862 & THE EXODUSTERS Homestead Act of 1862: Defined: the government offered farm plots of 160 acres to anyone willing to live on the land for five years, dig a well and build a road. Digging a well: Irrigation (watering the land for agriculture) Building a road: Transporting goods to other locations. Exodusters Term coined by Benjamin Singleton. New settlers who benefited from the Homestead Act of 1862. Mostly former African-American slaves. Significance of the Name: From the Biblical Story of Moses and the “Promise Land” (Exodus). The Promise Land to the Exodusters: Oklahoma and Kansas.

ORAL PRESENTATION: THE EXTINCTION OF THE BUFFALO ______________________________________________________________________________ ORAL PRESENTATION: THE EXTINCTION OF THE BUFFALO Look very closely at the picture above. How do you think this picture illustrate the extinction of the buffalo?

The buffalo meant everything…they provided us our shelter, our food, our weapons, our toys. The lives of the people once revolved around the way of the buffalo. The buffalo was a connection to the Creator. The buffalo provided for the people spiritually, culturally, and socially. The buffalo gave the people life. The buffalo is life. – Excerpts from Bisons, Givers of Life on Indian Country Today