THE AMERICAN WEST
Mining Frontier Discovery of gold led massive migration and immigration to California. 1/3 of western miners were Chinese immigrants. Gave people riches and destroyed the environment.
What was life like for the Indians on the Great Plains? Life centered around horses and buffalo. The buffalo provided food, clothing, and shelter. Small extended family groups. Children learned skills that they would need from their parents.
What was the Sand Creek Massacre? In 1864, settlers were moving into areas of Colorado where the Cheyenne Indians lived. The Army took the side of the settlers and killed about 200 Cheyenne.
What was the Treaty of Fort Laramie? Signed in 1868 in which the Sioux agreed to live on a reservation. However, there were Native Americans who did not sign this treaty.
Who was Sitting Bull? Leader of the Sioux Indian Nation. Did not sign the Treaty of Fort Laramie. Defeated General Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn in Months later the Sioux were defeated.
Who was General Custer? Led American cavalry to fight Sioux Indians at the Battle of Little Bighorn. All of Custer’s men were killed in what is famously known as Custer’s Last Stand.
Song: Please Mr. Custer #1 Hit in 1960 Racist terms like “injun” and “redskins” Kemo Sabe= Friend Voice in song does not want to fight Sioux because he is afraid of being scalped.
What is assimilation? Native Americans would give up their beliefs and culture and become a part of white culture. Education would be a key part of becoming “American.”
Helen Hunt Jackson Wrote about the injustices of the American government towards the American Indian in the book A Century of Dishonor. Most Americans however still favored assimilation.
What was the Dawes Act (1887)? Act broke up reservations and gave some land to each Native American family for farming. Native Americans were cheated out of the best land. Whites had killed most of the buffalo.
What was the Battle of Wounded Knee? The Sioux Indians performed the Ghost Dance to try and bring the buffalo back. The Ghost Dance made the Army nervous. In 1890, the Army killed 300 unarmed Sioux.
What were longhorns? Sturdy cattle accustomed to grasslands. Brought to the American cowboy from Spanish ranchers in Mexico.
What was the Chisholm Trail? Growing cities increased the demand for beef. Cattle ranchers drove their cattle along the Chisholm trail. Stretched from San Antonio, Texas to Kansas where cattle was shipped by rail to Chicago.
What was life like for a cowboy? Worked hours a day in extreme temperatures. In the winter, cowboys lived off savings did odd jobs on ranches. In the spring, cowboys rounded up cattle on long drives.
Frederick Jackson Turner Wrote The Significance of the American Frontier (1893) The frontier experience was an example of independence and individualism. Forced people to be inventive and creative as part of the American spirit. Worried that the closing of the frontier would lead to social and class conflict.
What was the Homestead Act (1862)? Government offered 160 acres of free land to anyone who would farm it for five years. By 1900, 400,000 homesteaders had settled on the Great Plains. Only 10% were settled by families.
Who were the exodusters? African Americans who moved from the post- Reconstruction South to Kansas.
What were soddys? Homes built in the Great Plains region. Homes were dug into the sides of hills or made from sod. Warm in winter and cool in the summer. Little light or air in the home.
What was the Morrill Act? Helped establish agricultural colleges. (Example: Virginia Tech, West Virginia University) Established experiment stations to develop new types of crops and growing techniques.
What were bonanza farms? Large, single crop farms in the Great Plains. Bonanza farms folded because of droughts between 1885 and 1890.
Who was Billy the Kid? Famous 19 th century American frontier outlaw. Bragged that he killed 21 men, but most think he killed 9. Killed at the age of 21. Symbolized the lawlessness of the American West in the 1880’s.
Song: The Ballad of Billy the Kid Recorded by Billy Joel in the 1970’s. Billy the Kid has become a American legend. Many movies, TV Shows, and songs have been made in his honor.
Who was Oliver Hudson Kelley? Started an organization called the Grange movement. Original purpose was to provide a place for farm families to discuss social and educational issues. Spent most of time fighting railroads.
What was the Farmers’ Alliance? Organizations that included teachers, preachers, and newspaper editors who sympathized with farmers. Educated farmers about lower interest rates and protests against railroads.
What is Populism? Pushed for reforms for farmers. Called for direct election of senators and secret ballot. Strong 3 rd party in election of 1892 and 1896.
What is bimetallism? A monetary system in which government would give people either gold or silver in exchange for paper currency or checks. Populists were for bimetallism like William Jennings Bryan. Silverites favored bimetallism because more dollars would be available and prices and wages would rise.
Who was William Jennings Bryan? Leader of the Populist Movement Famous Cross of Gold Speech in support of bimetallism Supported cause of the farmers Lost 3 presidential elections (1896, 1900, 1908)
Who was William McKinley? Elected President in 1896 and Supported the gold standard. Protected the interests of American big business
How is the Wizard of Oz symbolize Populism? Dorothy= average American, kindhearted Kansas= Populist stronghold Scarecrow= Midwestern farmers Tin Man= Industrial workers
Wizard of Oz Symbolism (continued) Cowardly Lion= William Jennings Bryan Ruby(Silver) Slippers= bimetallism Yellow Brick Road= gold standard Emerald City= Washington D.C.
Wizard of Oz Symbolism (Continued) Wizard of Oz= President Grover Cleveland Glinda the Good Witch= Populists from Midwest and South Wicked Witch of the West= Drought Oz= ounce
Wizard of Oz (Symbolism) Munchkins= little people enslaved by the Wicked Witch of the East (industrial/banking interests in cities) Winged Monkeys= Indians of the Great Plains
What was the gold standard? Backing dollars solely with gold. “Gold bugs” favored gold because prices would be kept from rising. Republicans like William McKinley supported gold standard.