Chapter 13 Settling the West U. S. History Since 1877 Chapter 13 Settling the West

Settling the West 13.1 Miners and Ranchers 13.2 Farming 13.3 Plains Indians

13.1 Settling the West Mining Industry Railroads Ranching Farming

Chapter 13 Objectives AHSGE: ACOS: 5.1 Identify and evaluate the events that led to the settlement of the West. ACOS: 1.) Explain the transition of the United States from an agrarian society to an industrial nation prior to World War I.

Mining Industry Prospectors traveled west to find gold and silver. At first, they used a process called placer mining. This required tools like picks, shovels, and pans. They searched for mineral deposits near the surface.

Technology and History 1 Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the information. Technology and History 1

Mining Industry Many settlers were unsuccessful because they did not search deep enough. Next, they began quartz mining, which mined deep below the surface. Frontier towns would quickly boom.

Mining Industry Henry Comstock discovered the Comstock Lode, a rich deposit of silver. Virginia City, Nevada instantly became a boomtown when people heard about the Comstock Lode. Settlers would leave when the gold and silver ran out, creating a boom and bust cycle for frontier towns.

Ghost Town

Railroads Railroads were soon extended to the West to connect the boom towns. Farmers and ranchers settled the West after railroads were built. In 1889, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana became states as a result of the population increase.

Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys. Don't let 'em pick guitars or drive them old trucks. Let 'em be doctors and lawyers and such. Mamas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys. 'Cos they'll never stay home and they're always alone. Even with someone they love.

Ranching Eastern cattle could not survive on the sparse prairie land in the West. The Texas longhorn was a breed of cattle that descended from Mexican cattle. Longhorns had adapted to the area. They roamed free on the open range.

Ranching The Civil War and the expansion of the railroad system contributed to the growth of the ranching industry. Ranchers rounded up cattle and herded them to the railroads in a journey called the long drive. Most cowboys were former Confederates escaping Reconstruction in the South.

Circa 1890

Ranching Some cowboys were Hispanic or African American. Nat Love was a black cowboy. He was born a slave in Tennessee. He was freed at the end of the Civil War and traveled west.

Ranching Cowboys lived dangerous lives but often exaggerated their tales. These stories became “dime novels” and created the “Wild West.”

Farming Farmers and ranchers often fought over territory. Farms blocked the routes of cattle drives. Barbed wire helped settle the disputes. The range was mostly fenced off. Barbed wire helped “tame” the “Wild West.” Herds were then kept on fenced-in ranches.

Frederick Jackson Turner 13.2 Farming The Great Plains The Wheat Belt The Frontier Turner Thesis Frederick Jackson Turner

Chapter 13 Objectives AHSGE: ACOS: 5.1 Identify and evaluate the events that led to the settlement of the West. ACOS: 1.) Explain the transition of the United States from an agrarian society to an industrial nation prior to World War I.

The Great Plains This area consists mostly of sparse grasslands. Railroads opened the Great Plains up for settlement. Railroad companies sold land along the railroads at low prices.

The Great Plains In 1862, the government tried to encourage settlement by passing the Homestead Act. After paying a $10 registration fee, an individual could apply for a homestead. A homestead was a tract of public land available for settlement. After living on the land for three to five years, a homesteader would own the land. Homesteaders could claim up to 160 acres of land. This law provided a legal framework for settling the land with clear property deeds.

The Wheat Belt Wheat became as important to the Great Plains as cottons was to the South. It could survive drought better than other crops. New methods and tools helped cultivate the area.

The Wheat Belt Dry farming is a way of planting seeds deep into the ground where there is moisture. Loose soil was easily blown away in the area.

The Wheat Belt People who farmed the plains became known as sodbusters. Commercial farms used new machinery to cover thousands of acres. These farms became known as bonanza farms because of the huge profits they made. The increased production of wheat in the Great Plains earned the area a new nickname: the Wheat Belt.

The Frontier In 1889, the government opened the Oklahoma area for settlement. Within hours, over 10,000 people rushed to Oklahoma to settle the area. This created the Oklahoma Land Rush and closed the frontier.

Turner Thesis Frederick Jackson Turner, an American historian, published a thesis claiming the frontier had helped develop the character of America. Frontier life presented opportunities for social advancement, the spread of democracy, and adventure. The Turner thesis emphasized individual effort in the American success story.

Discussion Question: Why did some people feel that the closing the frontier was the end of an era?

13.3 Plains Indians Culture Encroachment Dakota Sioux Lakota Sioux _________________ Sand Creek Massacre Battle of Little Big Horn Battle of Wounded Knee Assimilation General Custer

Chapter 13 Objectives AHSGE: ACOS: 5.1 Identify and evaluate the events that led to the settlement of the West. ACOS: 1.) Explain the transition of the United States from an agrarian society to an industrial nation prior to World War I.

Culture Numerous tribes of Native Americans lived in the Plains. They depended largely on the buffalo population for food. Thus, they were nomads roaming the Plains in search for buffalos.

Culture The army encouraged white hunters to kill buffalo. This would force the Native Americans onto the reservations.

Culture Gender determined daily tasks for individuals. Men hunted for food, traded goods, and fought against their enemies. Women cared for children, cooked, and prepared hides. Dakota Sioux

Encroachment As railroads brought settlers, Native Americans began competing with the settlers for land. Indians were deprived of hunting grounds. The U.S. Army often forced various Indian tribes to sign treaties forfeiting their claims to the land.

Encroachment These treaties also often required the tribes to relocate to Indian reservations. Some Native American tribes resisted with violence.

Dakota Sioux The Dakota Sioux were mistreated by Congress and the army. Chief Little Crow tried to intervene for his people. Congress failed to pay annuities on time as agreed. Little Crow asked traders to provide food on credit. Dakota Sioux

Dakota Sioux Andrew Myrick said, “If they are hungry, let them eat grass or their own dung.” The Dakota Sioux soon rebelled. Myrick was found shot to death with grass stuffed in his mouth.

Red Cloud Lakota Sioux The army sent troops to prevent more trouble among settlers and the Indians. It actually created more resistance. Chiefs Red Cloud, Crazy Horse, and Sitting Bull led successful attacks against the U.S. army. Crazy Horse lured Captain William Fetterman and his troops into an ambush. They destroyed the American regiment in Fetterman’s Massacre in Wyoming. Crazy Horse Sitting Bull

Sand Creek Massacre The Cheyenne and Arapaho met conflict with miners at Sand Creek. Chief Black Kettle tried to negotiate peace with the settlers. Several hundred Cheyenne Indians were attacked while waiting to negotiate a peace treaty at Camp Lyon.

Sand Creek Massacre Most of the details remain a mystery. 14 soldiers died. 69-600 Indians could have died in the battle. Congress responded by forming the Indian Peace Commission to create two reservations. It was a failed attempt at peace.

Battle of Little Big Horn Americans settlers continued to move into the reservations. Many of the Lakota decided to abandon the reservation to hunt near the Bighorn Mountains. Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer led the Seventh Cavalry.

Battle of Little Big Horn They attacked the Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne Indians on June 25, 1876 by the Little Bighorn River. About 2,500 Indian warriors repelled Custer’s charge. Custer and his men were all killed in “Custer’s Last Stand.” Newspapers reported the event as a vicious Indian massacre. This intensified Indian persecution.

Battle of Wounded Knee Lakota Sioux Indians who remained on the reservations continued to perform a forbidden Ghost Dance. The government blamed Sitting Bull for the resistance. Sitting Bull was killed in an exchange of gunfire.

Battle of Wounded Knee Other Ghost Dance participants fled the reservation. The army pursued the Indians to Wounded Knee Creek where a battle erupted. 25 soldiers were killed and about 200 Lakota men, women, and children were killed.

Assimilation Some Americans protested the mistreatment of the Native Americans. They hoped the Indians would assimilate into American culture. The Dawes Act divided the reservations into individual allotments. Families received 160 acres. Single adults received 80 acres. Children received 40 acres. Excess land was sold at low prices. Proceeds were supposed to help the Indians.

Assimilation The Indians received no training or tools to cultivate the land. They soon plunged further into poverty. This attempt at assimilation ultimately failed.

Chapter 13 Test Tomorrow!