Resources in the West Mining & Cattle Miners & Ranchers

Mining Settlements Treasure Seekers created Boom Towns 49ers – CA; Comstock – NV 3 Arizona cities exist because of population boom from mining towns –T–Tombstone – silver –G–Globe – silver & copper –J–Jerome - copper

Challenges from Mining “Cages” – elevators that rode down underground; had no walls – slight move and you could be pinned Power drills – caused dust which produced lung problems TNT – unexpected explosions also creating poisonous gas and fires Hot underground air filled with toxic gases Cave-ins and floods from underground springs

The Cattle Kingdom Cattle came from Spain and was brought to CA & TX these cattle mixed with English breeds to create Longhorns Longhorns were tough and resilient to the cold and disease Workers taking care of the cattle became known as “Cowboys” e.com/watch?v=V g5cwSBnyQU

Ranching the Great Plains Sheep (sheepherders), cattle RR encourage settlement Problems: –Native Americans – fighting for their home land –Farmers – sharing the land –Miners – blowing up the land & scaring the wild life

Farming the Great Plains Homestead Act – gave govt. owned land to small farmers; this led to tons of people migrating west

Farming the Great Plains Challenge of farming on the Plains: The environment – the freezing winters, scorching summers; blizzards, tornadoes, different land: couldn’t plant the same crops Lumber shortage – few wood sources for home building or heating Grasshoppers – ate crops, food, and clothes Sod houses – made bc of good insulation & cheap but they disintegrated; wood framed homes prevailed

SUMMARY QUIZ TIME

1. What are boomtowns?

2. Name the genetically bred cow that was used in the Wild West as a tractor?

3. Name the law that encouraged settlement in the west to dominate the land.

4. Name one major challenge to farming on the Great Plains.