Westward Expansion Lecture Notes

“Manifest Destiny” The growing belief held by Americans during the 1840’s that it was their “God given right” to expand into the West. Expand through Mexican and Native American territory Obvious and inevitable Mexican-American War: 1845 Texas annexation. Mexico ceded the New Mexico and California territories to the United States Made westward expansion easier “Go west, young man!” California gold rush

Settlers Push Westward Diverse group of migrants “Exodusters” moved from the South to Kansas German, Irish, Dutch, Scandinavian, Russian Many took land from Hispanic farmers Congress passed the Homestead Act in 1862 Promoted by newspapers Pacific Railway Act (1862) Offered 160 acres to those willing to farm land for five years Promoted by newspapers promoted settlement

Manifest Destiny essential questions: What is the relationship between Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion? Why did people support Manifest Destiny? How did it lead to the growth of the West? What were some political, economic and social reasons for Manifest Destiny? How did Manifest Destiny affect different groups of people?

Cultural Clashes pgs. 380-387 On a separate sheet of paper, answer and be prepared to discuss the following questions: What were the characteristics of the Plains Indians culture? How did the culture of white settlers differ from that of the Plains Indians? Why do these differences matter? Why did settlers continue to push west? Was assimilation beneficial or harmful to Native Americans? Justify your answer.

Clashing Values Whites Native Americans Community welfare Individual interest Economy based on profit Nature should be conquered Community welfare Economy based on subsistence Live in harmony with nature

Federal Indian Policy White migration devastated the Native American population relocation from settlement, railroads disease (smallpox, cholera, measles) Federal government set aside land for reservations treaties were altered, not honored

Warfare and Dispossession Smaller tribes accepted terms of treaties, larger ones resisted warfare engulfed the plains from 1850s to 1880s Second Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868) led to temporary peace railroads continued to be built on “Indian lands” white hunters killed 4 million buffalo from 1872-74

Assimilation Government sought to change Native Americans’ way of life forced to accept government orders, “or starve” White activists sought to destroy Indian culture missionaries attempted to convert to Christianity boarding schools were established to discourage traditional ways of life

The Dawes Act (1887) What did the Dawes Act do to tribal land? How does this conflict with many Native American cultures? How did the Dawes Act try to abolish tribal governments? What problems did Native Americans face once granted their allotted land?

Wounded Knee Massacre (1890) Sioux faced continuing hardships starvation, disease, restrictions on movement Ghost Dance movement spread, caused concern among American military leaders Sitting Bull was killed during a raid in December 1890 Army killed over 300 Sioux at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota on December 29

The Sioux White miners began settling in the Black Hills in 1874 when gold was discovered the Sioux, under Sitting Bull, refused to leave Battle of Little Bighorn (1876) Sioux defeated Gen. George Armstrong Custer U.S. Army pursued the Sioux, defeated them in 1877

The West of Life and Legend The “Wild West” was romanticized in literature Kit Carson, Mark Twain, “Buffalo Bill” In reality, the West was dominated by corporations, not “rugged individuals” Cowboys worked long hours, performed difficult work

Cowboys and the Cattle Frontier Demand for cattle increased Abilene, KS became a “cattle center” Other “cow towns” developed, many became large cities Ranches emerged across the West, cattle industry became corporate Myth of the “cowboy”

Challenges of the Plains Life in the West was challenging settlers lived in sod homes women’s work was demanding settlers were isolated churches provided a sense of community Morrill Land Grant Acts (1862, 1890) financed agricultural colleges small farmers had difficulty competing with bonanza farms, fell into debt

New Farms, New Markets Farming for homesteaders was difficult “dry farming” techniques (wheat) Technology changed farming barbed wire protected livestock grain elevators, plows, machinery railroads provided transport for products Oklahoma Land Rush (1889) “boomers” and “sooners” claimed 2 million acres of land in “Indian Territory”

Farmers Unite Price of farm products plummeted Overproduction, decline in foreign demand Farmers pushed for increased money supply Oliver Kelley formed the Grange in 1867 worked to pass laws fixing maximum freight rates

The Panic of 1893 Depression began in 1893, following Grover Cleveland’s reelection Cleveland rejected government action to solve social or economic problems high unemployment, starvation, homelessness the functions of the government “do not include the support of the people”

The Populist Party Populists met in 1892 to organize national party Developed the Omaha Platform govt. ownership of railroads, telegraph and telephone systems national currency issued by the government (not banks) bimetallism graduated income tax popular election of senators (17th amendment) James Weaver nominated for president, won over a million votes

Free Silver Depression continued, silver became the main issue in the country Democrats nominated William Jennings Bryan in 1896 adopted many Populist policies (bimetallism) Populists reluctantly supported Democratic ticket

1896: Republicans Triumphant Republicans nominate William McKinley millions of dollars contributed by business interests Bryan campaigned across the country, speaking to millions “Cross of Gold” speech McKinley’s campaign successfully orchestrated by industrialist Mark Hanna McKinley wins, running a “Front Porch” campaign