Westward Expansion

U.S. Land Acquired in the 1800s

Manifest Destiny Americans believed they should own all the land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean; coast to coast.

Gold Rush Gold was discovered in California in 1849 The Comstock Lode, a Bonanza, was later discovered. People who moved West to mine are called miners.

People moved West to find gold.

African Americans Moved West.

Why were African Americans called Exodusters? African Americans were called Exodusters after the book from the Bible called the Exodus.

Why were African Americans called Exodusters? This book described how the Jews escaped from slavery in Egypt. The African Americans were escaping slavery in the South, just as Jews escaped slavery from Egypt. That is why they were called Exodusters.

The Homestead Act of 1862.

An application for land. People staked their claim by finding a section of land that was marked. Then they registered the piece of land with the government. After cultivating the land for five years, it was theirs for free.

Homestead Act Stamp.

Plowfarms, plows and families in front of their sodhouses.

A difficult life for the farmers. Farmers had to cut through thick, hard earth called sod. Winters were harsh; cold, windy with a lot of snowstorms called blizzards. Summers were hot and had little rain. Farmers had to use a technique called dry- farming (growing crops that needed little water.) Sometimes grasshoppers would eat all the crops.

Farmers in crisis. Farmers could not repay their debts. The Populist party tried to help farmers. They wanted government to reduce railroad rates and to help with (falling) decreasing prices for grain. Populists wanted all the silver mined in the West to be turned into coinage (money). Free silver would make it easier for farmers to repay their debts. The United States did not turn silver into money.

The Transcontinental Railroad finished in 1869.

Many Immigrants, such as Irish, Mexicans and Chinese helped build the Railroad.

The Union Pacific meets the Central Pacific in Utah in 1869.

Impact of the Railroads Railroads brought growth and new settlement all across the West.

Impact of the Railroads Railroads brought growth and new settlement all across the West. The railroads enabled people, supplies, and mail to move quickly and cheaply and safer across the plains and the mountains.

Impact of the Railroads Railroads brought growth and new settlement all across the West. The railroads enabled people, supplies, and mail to move quickly and cheaply and safer across the plains and the mountains. The largest cities and towns developed where major railroad lines met.

Impact of the Railroads Railroads brought growth and new settlement all across the West. The railroads enabled people, supplies, and mail to move quickly and cheaply and safer across the plains and the mountains. The largest cities and towns developed where major railroad lines met. Because of their rapid growth, western territories began to apply for statehood. Nevada, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Washington all became states from 1864 – 1890.

The Railroad spurs the growth of other industries The lumber industry grows, because wood is needed to build the train tracks. The steel industry grows because steel is needed to build the tracks. The coal industry grows because coal is needed to fuel the train. The growth of these industries opens thousands of new jobs for workers.

The Great Plains

Blue skies… open prairies

The location of the Great Plains.

These are the states on the Plains. Homesteaders came to the Plains to farm the land. Miners searched for gold. Railroad companies built the train. Exodusters came to Kansas to start a new life and later became miners and Homesteaders and worked on the railroad. Immigrants worked on railroads and in mines and became Homesteaders.

Native American Land Native Americans lived here first. Native Americans and Whites came into bloody conflicts over the land. They tried to protect their lands, but finally, the United States government forced them onto reservations.

Buffalo roamed the Plains.

Plains Indians hunt the buffalo.

The buffalo is used for tepees, clothes, tools, food and more.

The buffalo hide business becomes popular and settlers kill millions of buffalo.

BROKEN PROMISES! The United States government made many treaties with the Native Americans not to fight and not to touch certain areas of their land. For example, The Fort Laramie Treaty was a treaty made with the Cheyenne tribe, where Americans said an area of land belonged to the Cheyenne forever! However, when gold was discovered there, the Americans forced them to sign a new treaty giving up the land. The United States government broke many treaties with the Native Americans.

Many Wars - Many Heroes Many Wars Sioux War of 1876 The Apache Wars Battle of Little Bighorn Nez Perce Many Heroes Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse Geronimo Lakotas & Cheyenne Chief Joseph

Indians defend their lands, but are defeated in the end.

Native Americans are forced onto reservations.

The Dawes Act divided Indian land and gave some to the Indians in hopes they would become farmers. But they sold it to Whites for low prices.

Native Americans prayed for a new world without Whites in the Ghost Dance Religion.

Painting of the Ghost Dance.

Today, many Native Americans are a part of our society. However, many still live on reservations and try to maintain their cultures. New laws returned some Native American lands back to the rightful owners. How would you feel about your history if you were a Native American? Native Americans Today