Settling the Great West

I. New Lands Are Settled Large amounts of land gained during the 1840’s and 50’s were not interesting to settlers until the 1860’s and 70’s. After the Civil War and Reconstruction land became a precious and sought after commodity.

I. New Lands Are Settled A. Gold Discovered in California in 1849, Colorado in 1858, and Nevada in 1859. The Comstock Lode (NV) one single silver deposit worth $340 million. The promise of riches brought thousands westward.

I. New Lands Are Settled B. Farmland 1. Homestead Act, 1862-promised 160 acres of land for cultivation. 2. Morrill Land Act, 1862-gave federal land to states to fund and build agricultural colleges. Life was not easy for these Homesteaders. Many went west with the hope of a new life and failed in the harsh life on the prairie.

Homesteading Family-Nebraska Families traveled west in covered wagons with all of their belongings in tow. Homesteading Family-Nebraska Many pictures exist from this era as families documented their journey.

The Homestead Act required you to farm the land The Homestead Act required you to farm the land. Prairie soil was fertile, but tough to farm initially.

Building materials were scarce, so homesteaders resorted to building “soddies.” These homes were made out of the one thing that was plentiful: grass

Building materials were scarce, so homesteaders resorted to building “soddies.” These homes were made out of the one thing that was plentiful: grass

Another option: a dugout cut into a hill Building materials were scarce, so homesteaders resorted to building “soddies.” These homes were made out of the one thing that was plentiful: grass

I. New Lands Are Settled C. Innovations-New inventions made successful business possible in new lands 1. Barbed wire-mass produced by Joseph Glidden, it kept cattle in and protected crops. 2. Windmill-Used prairie winds for irrigation.

I. New Lands Are Settled C. Innovations-New inventions made successful business possible in new lands 3. Sod drill-Allowed for easier planting in prairie soil. 4. Refrigerator car-Allowed for transport of meat or perishable goods. 5. Steel Plow-cut through prairie soil. 6. Reaper-Allowed for easier harvesting of grain

I. New Lands Are Settled D. Railroads 1862 and 1864 Railroad Acts gave land and money to companies to build rails. 2 Companies emerged: 1. Union Pacific-used Irish immigrants and veterans working west from Omaha, Nebraska 2. Central Pacific-used Chinese immigrants working east from Sacramento.

May 10, 1869-Transcontinental RR completed at Promontory Point, Utah

Impact of the Railroad: Social Easier transport, created jobs, movement west, immigration Political Land and money grants, parties moved westward, regulation Economic By 1900, over 1 million employed, money spent, crop transport

Boomtowns-The Gold Rush and Railroads created many new towns in the west. These towns that would pop up around gold mines and rail stations were known as boomtowns

Ghost towns- When the gold was all mined out or the luck ran out, many boomtowns were deserted, becoming ghost towns.

I. New Lands Are Settled Changes in the Railroad 1. C.F. Dowd organized the world into 24 time zones so that trains would be on time.

I. New Lands Are Settled Changes in the Railroad 2. George Pullman built the first luxury train cars. 3. Credit Mobilier Scandal-Railroad operators bribed U.S. Senators for more land and money. 4. Interstate Commerce Act, 1887- required railroad rates to be “reasonable and just.” *First attempt by the federal government to regulate business. Vague and difficult to enforce.

The Truth about Cowboys American cowboys learned about the cattle industry from Mexican vaqueros. Cowboys around the chuckwagon

The Truth about Cowboys Cowboys would make the long drive from Texas on the Chisholm Trail to the RR at Abilene, Kansas. The cattle were then sent to packing plants in Chicago.

The Truth about Cowboys Cowboys faced many dangers: stampedes, thunder & lightning, rivers, and droughts. Not to mention Indians.

The Truth about Cowboys Heroes of the West: Wild Bill Hickock Calamity Jane “Buffalo Bill” Cody Deadwood Dick

Buffalo Soldiers Many Former Slaves, veterans of the Civil War, and Free blacks were sent west to form Cavalry regiments to fight Indians, protect cattle, and maintain peace in the Wild West.

II. The Second Great Removal & Indian Wars Buffalo Herds were immense. There were millions of buffalo on the Great Plains. Their main predator was man. II. The Second Great Removal & Indian Wars A. Indian Life Before the 1860’s Natives of the Great Plains had developed a nomadic lifestyle because of horses. Plains Indians were completely dependant upon the great buffalo herds that inhabited the areas for food, clothing, shelter, etc.

II. The Second Great Removal & Indian Wars B. U.S. Government Breaks Treaties The United States government began to sign treaties & establish reservations for Indians. Provisions: 1. RR companies could build tracks across Indian lands 2. Indians would be taught to farm on their lands 3. Americanization/assimilation- boarding schools tried to teach Indian children how to be “civilized”.

II. The Second Great Removal & Indian Wars B. U.S. Government Breaks Treaties The United Sates government began to sign treaties & establish reservations for Indians. Problems: 1. RR companies always wanted more land 2. Indians many times didn’t really agree to deals. 3. Reservations were not well supplied 4. Natives resisted changes to their way of life.

The Indian Wars 1862-Minnesota Sioux killed over 100 whites out of fear. President Lincoln ordered the hanging of 38 natives and the Sioux were forced to leave the state 1864-Sand Creek Massacre, Colorado-Colonel John Chivington led the Colorado militia in an attack on about 700 peacefully encamped Cheyenne. His men killed over 450, mostly women and children.

The Indian Wars 1876-Battle of Little Bighorn, Montana- General George Armstrong Custer and the 7th Cavalry (264 men) were wiped out after attacking an encampment of natives led by Crazy Horse, their military leader, and Sitting Bull, their spiritual leader.

The Indian Wars 1877-Nez Perce of Idaho led by Chief Joseph were caught and forced to surrender only a few miles short of the Canadian border after a 1700 mile hike. Chief Joseph said, “I will fight no more forever.”

The Indian Wars 1870’s-Geronimo led the Apaches in raids against the Government throughout Arizona and New Mexico. He eventually fled to Mexico. 1889-Wovoka, the Ghost Dance-Sioux prophet encouraged all natives to unite and dance together and the white man would go away, returning life to normal.

The Indian Wars 1890-Wounded Knee, South Dakota-U.S. Army rounded up 350 starving and freezing Sioux. A shot was fired and the soldiers opened fire with machine guns. About 250 Sioux and 25 whites were killed. Chief Big Foot Medicine Man This event marked the end of the Indian Wars.

II. The Second Great Removal & Indian Wars D. Solutions to the Indian Problem 1. Extermination of the Buffalo-The U.S. government paid hunters to kill as many buffalo as possible to eliminate the food source and lifestyle of the Plains Indians. Many hunters would shoot buffalo from the back of trains that passed across the plains.

In 1800 there were about 65 million buffalo on the Great Plains, and by 1890 there were less than 1000 left. This was the single most important step to ending the life of the Plains Indians.

II. The Second Great Removal & Indian Wars D. Solutions to the Indian Problem 2. Helen Hunt Jackson-A Century of Dishonor-published in 1881, this was a record of the government’s lies and broken promises in dealing with Native Americans. 3. Dawes Severalty Act, 1887-Outlawed tribal ownership of land. Sought to break up the reservations and divide the land up among individuals. The remaining land was to be sold to help buy farm equipment for Natives. *It was a massive failure as many white investors bought up land and Indians never received any money or equipment.*

III. Populism and Reform A. Problems for Farmers Farm goods were not worth as much and loans were harder to pay off. B. Farmers Organize Farmers on the plains began to create social groups to protect their interests, fighting against the railroads and banks. The Grange and several other Farmer’s Alliances were the first of these groups. They pledged to “raise less corn and more hell.”

III. Populism and Reform C. Populist Party-organized in 1891 out of meetings from Farmer’s Alliances. The Omaha Platform: Money-graduated income tax & better federal loan program Transportation/Communication-Government ownership of RR, telegraph & telephone. Government-US Senators elected by popular vote, use of initiative, recall, and referendum. The Populists ran James B. Weaver of Iowa for President in 1892.

III. Populism and Reform D. Election of 1896 Became a struggle between economic interests and Gold vs. Silver. Greenbacks were paper money issued that fluctuated wildly because they were not supported by anything. William McKinley (Rep)-favored the Gold Standard

III. Populism and Reform D. Election of 1896 William Jennings Bryan (Dem)-great speaker who favored bimetallism. He gave the famous “Cross of Gold” speech. He was actually the nominee of the Democrats and the Populists. The Populists nominated a different VP than the Democrats.

The “Cross of Gold” Speech was given at the Democratic Convention in 1896. “Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests and the toilers everywhere, we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”

III. Populism and Reform D. Election of 1896 Results: McKinley defeated Bryan in 1896 and 1900. The Gold Standard Act was passed in 1900. The Populist Party was absorbed by the Democrats.