Could buy it for a small amount of $$$ HOMESTEAD ACT Homestead Act was a law developed in 1862 by Congress to promote settlement of the Great Plains. Age 21 and the head of the family could have 160 acres of land if they improved it in five years Could buy it for a small amount of $$$

Great Plains--The grassland extending through west-central portion of the US.

Differences in land ownership Railroad INDIAN CONFLICTS clash Differences in land ownership Railroad Settlers trespassing on Indian Land Discovery of gold Slaughter of the buffalo Broken treaties

1871 to 1875, the US supported the extermination of 11 million buffalo.

US INDIAN POLICY Take away the food source from the Native American and they will be forced to submit and go to the reservations. Skull

The near extinction of the buffalo. Destruction of the Buffalo Herds The near extinction of the buffalo.

Tribes of the Great Plains Sioux Cheyenne Crow Arapaho Kiowa

COWBOYS Original cowboys came from Mexico (Aztec prisoners) They eventually traveled into New Mexico teaching the Pueblo Indians how to ride and rope Today there are many influences from “cowboy” culture.

COWBOYS Let’s see if you can recognize the modern names for these “cowboy” influences

Cowboy True or False? The career of a cowboy lasted from about 25 years of age to about 40 years of age. True 40 was old for a cowboy because of the large amount of riding and work required.

The most frequent cause of death for a cowboy was from Native American’s or cattle rustlers. False Pneumonia or riding accidents caused most cowboy deaths

Cowboys had to be expert marksmen to protect the herd from cattle rustlers and Native American raiders. False A cowboy probably did not carry a gun and even more likely never shot anyone.

Famous Cowboys… …who were probably never cowboys. James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickock Martha Jane Cannary “Calamity Jane”

Cattle Drive Ranchers: Raised longhorn cattle a. Located in southern Great Plains (Texas) b. Profit from demand for beef growing in cities c. Cattle had to be “driven” to the railroads d. Long Drive- Long, dangerous trip: heat, Native Americans, rivers, storms usually happend once a year

Great Plain Settlers Key trails helps western towns grow Chisolm Trial-Texas to Abilene, Kansas Baxter Trail- Texas to Kansas City, MO Goodnight-Loving Trial- Texas to Cheyenne, Wyo.

The End of the Open West Overgrazing Drought and Cold Caused farmers to focus on smaller herds The invention of Barbed wire helped them fence the herds The open west was no more (around 1887-88)

Chisolm Trail

Great Plain Settlers (3) Farmers-Lived on plots of land called homesteads a. Homestead Act (1862)- federal gov’t plan to give 160 acres of free land to any settler who world move out west and improve the land for 5 years. b. Exodusters- nickname for African Americans who moved out west to escape the problems of South and receive free land c. Lived in Sod Houses; Nicknamed a “Soddy” or “Soddies” d. Faced hardships: droughts, Native Americans attacks, loneliness

Railroad opens the West The federal government gave railroad companies a lot of land for laying track 1867 two companies begin a race to the middle

Central Pacific Railroad moved East from Sacramento, California Union Pacific Railroad moved WEST from Omaha, Nebraska

May 19, 1869 they met at Promontory Point, Utah

Great Plain Settlers II.Problems Faced on the Great Plains a. Conflicts with Railroads 1. Railroads received huge land grants, then sold to settlers at higher prices 2. Railroads were the only link to East and West 3. Corrupt Business Practices of Railroads a. Monopolies- Few lines went through the Great Plains. Settlers faced high prices as a result b. High Freight Rates- amounts charged for shipping goods “Long haul vs. Short haul” dispute upset settlers

Despite these problems thousands moved west to farm the land

A Pioneer’s Sod House, SD Soddy—homes on the western frontier built out of bricks of turf.

Lived in dugouts and soddies

Great Plain Settlers e. Technology needed to make farming more productive on the Plains 1. Steel Plow-to break up the thick soil (sod) 2. Steel Windmill- needed to pump underground water 3. Mechanical Reaper- to harvest crops 4. Barbed Wire- to prevent animals from destroying crops 5. Transcontinental Railroad/Refrigerated Cars- to transport crops to market for sell

Map 13 of 45

Conflicts with Indians

Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse Sitting Bull (Sioux) and Crazy Horse (Cheyenne) were two chiefs who refused to sign the treaty. They defiantly left the reservation. "One does not sell the earth upon which the people walk" Crazy Horse

The Battle of Little Big Horn 1876 He was heavily outnumbered and trapped. Custer & all 220 of his men died. “Custer’s Last Stand” outraged Americans and led to govt. retribution. The Sioux and Cheyenne were crushed within a year.

Nez Percé tribal retreat (1877) Chief Joseph, Nez Perce Nez Percé tribal retreat (1877) Refusing to go to the reservation, he led his tribe on a 1,400 march trying to get to Canada. Trying to meet up with Sitting Bull. Eventually surrendered. In 3 months, the band of about 700, 200 of whom were warriors, fought 2,000 U.S. soldiers in 4 major battles and skirmishes

Battle of Wounded Knee – Dec.1890 7th Calvary rounded up starving and freezing Sioux and attempted to confiscate all weapons Violence erupted, 300 Indians and 25 whites lay dead. This is the last of the Indian conflicts.

Dawes Act of 1887 U.S. INDIAN POLICY Quicker Americanization Assimilate, mainstreamed and absorbed into US society Adopt Christianity and White education Individual land ownership Abandon tribe, culture and become farmers

Indian Assimilation Attempts Native American children were taken to off- reservation Indian schools where they would be taught white man’s ways.

1876 Election *Disputed Electoral votes Tilden did not receive enough electoral votes. Special Commission gives votes to Hayes. Hayes wins the election Democrats refuse to recognize Hayes as President * *Disputed Electoral votes 164 369 total electoral votes, need 185 to win.

CORRUPT BARGAIN vs Rutherford B. Hayes Samuel Tilden The election of 1876 and the Compromise of 1877 are referred to as the Corrupt Bargain. The Democrats and Republicans work out a deal to recognize Hayes as President In return, President Hayes must end Reconstruction and pull the Union troops out of the South.

Credit Mobilier PRESIDENT GRANT'S SCANDALS Phony construction company owned by stockholders of Union Pacific Railroad. Hired Credit Mobilier to build the transcontinental railroad Charged the U.S. government nearly twice the actual cost of the project. Bribed Congress to stop the investigation. Largest scandal in U.S. history, and led to greater public awareness of government corruption.

Whiskey Ring Salary Grab PRESIDENT GRANT'S SCANDALS A group of President Grant’s officials imported whiskey Used their offices to avoid paying taxes Cheated US treasury of millions. Salary Grab Congress gave itself a raise, $5,000 to $7,500 annually. Congressmen received a retroactive check for $5,000, plus their raise…… Became a political issue….Later repealed.