America at the Turn of the Century SS5H3 The student will describe how life changed in America at the turn of the century.

The end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th marks a time known as the turn of the century. Time of great change People moved west to claim land and seek opportunities US took more and more land away from the Native Americans, territory became available for white settlers. These settlers became farmers, miners, or ranchers The Turn of the Century

Native Americans in the late 1800’s The US moved Native Americans from their land many times. This caused several wars to break out between the US Army and Native Americans. The US usually won because it was stronger and had more advanced weapons. Native Americans had a few victories; the largest being Battle of Little Bighorn. Native Americans in the late 1800’s

Battle of Little Bighorn 1876 George Armstrong Custer thought he could surprise and defeat a band of Sioux warriors. Custer had only a few hundred men while the Sioux had thousands. After rushing recklessly into battle, the Sioux quickly surrounded and killed them. The battle became known as Custer’s Last Stand. It was the last major victory for Native Americans. By the end of the 1800’s, the US controlled all the land between Mexico and Canada, stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Battle of Little Bighorn

Cowboys and Cattle Drives Cowboys became legendary figures in the late 1800’s. Cowboys drove large herds of cattle from ranches to towns and markets where they could be shipped and sold. Cattle drives- journeys taken to drive herds to market Many of these cowboys were African American. These men were freed slaves who made their way west following the Civil War. Black Cowboys were common in places like Texas. Cowboys and Cattle Drives

A number of cattle trails developed during the late 1800’s.

The Chisholm Trail ran from Texas , north through Oklahoma and into Kansas. Texas cowboys used it to drive herds to Kansas towns where the cattle could be loaded onto trains and shipped east to market. The Chisholm Trail

The Great Western Cattle Trail The Great Western Cattle Trail ran from Texas to Kansas, ending in Dodge City. Cowboys relied on this trail to get their herd to railway stations so that the cattle could be transported by train. The Great Western Cattle Trail

Cattle Trails Why did they develop? Ranchers needed to get the cattle to the railroads in Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri Cattle were worth much more in the North and East. “Cow Towns” Towns located near railroads to ship cattle. Cattle Trails

The End of the Cattle Drives By the end of the 1800’s, land owners began using barbed wire to fence their property making it hard to drive cattle across large open plains Railroad owners constructed more and more railways ending the need for long drives to get to train stations. The cowboy days ended by the early 1900’s. The End of the Cattle Drives

Inventions and Innovations

Inventors of the airplane The Wright Brothers

Alexander Graham Bell *Scientist *Inventor *Invented the telephone A form of communication that was introduced in the 19th century and is still widely used today. Alexander Graham Bell

Thomas Edison Inventor *Invented the light bulb The light bulb changed American economy by making it easier for businesses to operate at night. Thomas Edison

George Washington Carver Former slave Chemist Developed products from the peanut His discovery had the greatest impact on the South. George Washington Carver