Chapter 19-The New West The Plains Indians Railroads and Mining The Cattle Kingdom Indian Peoples in Retreat Farming

The Plains Indians Plains Indians- Native American tribes living in the Great Plains Life on the Plains * Religious * Cultural (own language and customs) Depended heavily on Horses * used for hunting and transportation

Depending on the Buffalo Followed the herding buffalo * used as a main food source Tepees- tents made of Buffalo skin Travois- sled pulled by a dog or a horse Hunting the Buffalo- How? * Corral- corner in mass numbers

Role of Men and Women Men Hunters and protectors of the tribe Passed on valuable skills (teachers) Military leadership Supervised the spiritual life Women Looked after the home and children Crafts- blankets and baskets Made the tepees and took them down regularly

Mining and Railroading Mining- began with the California Gold Rush in 1849 * Sierra Nevada Mountain Range * Lode- rich vein of gold or silver 2.1870’s to 1890’s- gold or valuable minerals found in Montana, South Dakota and Colorado 3. Boomtowns- towns that developed very quickly because of the valuable resources there

Problems Mining Few miners “struck it rich” Invaded natural habitats * cut forests * polluted streams Foreign miners were treated unfairly Lack of Law Enforcement in Boomtowns * “Wild West” * Vigilantes- self appointed law enforcer

Railroads Transcontinental Railroad- a railway that stretches from one coast to another * East Coast to the West Coast * Connect Atlantic to Pacific Oceans Government Subsidies- money from government to complete the Railroad * Financial aid or land grant

Working on the Railroad Basic Conditions 1. Very difficult and hard labor 2. Dangerous 3. Low pay 4. Harsh weather ** Had to build through mountain ranges 1. Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains

Railways Promote Growth Railroads- Good for transportation and business * Small towns near the tracks * Large Cities grew 1. Seattle 2. San Francisco 3. Los Angeles

Cattle Kingdom After the Civil War- DEMAND for beef increased Cattle Drives- moving large groups of cattle across states Chisholm Trail- Jesse Chisholm’s famous trail * Ranchers began using the trail in 1867 * Very popular route for cattle

Life of a Cowhand Conditions 1. Hot and tiring work 2. Long days (18 hours) 3. Boring Labor 4. Dangerous and all types of weather Vaqueros- skilled riders who herded cattle on ranches in Mexico and the Southwest

Cow Towns and the Cattle Boom Cow Town- Where a cattle drive ended * Small towns springing up along the RR * Various towns in the Midwest 1. Wichita 2. Caldwell 3. Dodge City Cow Towns- attracted settlers that wanted to stay and open businesses

Cattle Boom Open Range- Ranchers letting their cattle run free * Large areas of open land * Millions of grazing cattle from Kansas to Montana End of the Cattle Boom: * Fencing their fields * More farmers bought land- smaller ranches * Too many cattle * Too little feed * Disease and cold winters in 1886 and 1887

Indian Peoples in Retreat Gold Rush and waves of new settlers caused the Native Americans to give up their land * Broken Treaties from White Settlers * Forcing Native Americans to Reservations * Moved many to Oklahoma and S.D. * Poor soil and isolated Plains Indians- suffered many hardships * Lost Battles * Broken treaties from white settlers * Decline of the Buffalo

Custer’s Last Stand 1874- Gold was found in the Black Hills * Thousands of white settlers rushed in Plains Indians fought back * Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse led an attack * Became known as the Sioux War of 1876 George Custer led 600 men into the Little Bighorn Valley * attacked by 2,000 Indians * Custer- he and his men died Short victory for the Plains Indians * defeated by the army and surrendered their lands

Massacre at Wounded Knee Sitting Bull- Accidentally shot and killed * upset the Plains Indians Indians fleeing the reservations in response to Sitting Bulls death * tracked down by the settlers * accidental shots broke out * 300 Plains Indians died

Farming Homestead Act- government promising 160 acres of land for anyone who farmed the land for 5 years Oklahoma Land Rush- government allowing free homesteads in Oklahoma * Had to wait until noon on April 22 1889 * “Sooners”- those who left too early

Hard Life on the Plains Sod Houses- soil held together by grass routes * leaked and not sturdy Difficult climate- drought and harsh winters * insect problems/crop failure Very low pay- difficult price movement of goods

Farmers Take Action The Grange- formed in 1867 ** Goal- boost profits for farmers How? Cooperative Buying- group of farmers buying supplies wholesale (large quantities) Farmers Alliance- set up buying warehouses

Election of 1896 Populist Party- gained power in previous elections 1. William Jennings Bryan (Pop) 2. William McKinley (Rep) Farmers- voted for Bryan Bankers and Businessmen- voted for McKinley * McKinley won- many voted in East * Populist Party broke up after the election