An Expanding Nation: The American West Unit 2

A. The Big Boom: Mining & Railroads 1. Discovery of Gold & Silver A) Led to an increase of prospectors and mining “Boomtowns”- towns that were created near mining sites Ex: The silver Comstock Lode in Nevada

A.The Big Boom: Mining and Railroads 2. Growth of Railroads A) Better transportation was needed to ship supplies/people West and metals Eastward to market 1) Subsidies: Money and/or materials given by the government to support a project that benefits the public B) Transcontinental Railroad ) Meeting of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroad at Promontory Point, Utah “The Golden Spike”

A.The Big Boom: Mining & Railroads 3. Impact of the Railroads A) Economic Increased demand for coal & steel Easier for people to move to the West for work Growth of Western cities Reduced the cost of shipping B) Time Zones for safety

B. Ranching and Farming 1. Ranching & The “Cattle Kingdom” A) More railroads and large natural resource of cattle spurred the ranching and cattle business B) The “Long Drive” - trips of hundreds of miles to lead cattle to railroad hubs 1) Led by: A) Cowhands B) Vaqueros - cowhands of Hispanic origin

B. Ranching and Farming 2. Farming on the Great Plains A) The Homestead Act ) Gave up to 165 acres of land to any family that paid $10 and agreed to live there for 5 years 2) Promise of cheap land increased migration of farmers to the Great Plains

C. Conflict with Native Americans 1. Traditional Native American life A) Tribes on the Great Plains were nomadic Moved often to follow herds of buffalo

C. Conflict with Native Americans 2. Causes of conflict on the Great Plains A) Loss of buffalo population B) Destruction of Native American culture Attempt to force Plains tribes onto reservations by force 1) Reservation: area of land set aside for use by a group A) Government corruption and lack of respect for the rights of Native Americans was prevalent among the officials in charge of Bureau of Indian Affairs 1) Led to harsh living conditions

C. Conflict with Native Americans 3. Conflict on the Plains A) Main Native American leaders: 1) Sitting Bull (Symbolic) and Crazy Horse (Warrior) B) Main U.S. Leaders 1) General Sheridan and General Custer C) Main area of confrontation: Dakota Territories Rumors of gold in the Black Hills (sacred tribal grounds)

C. Conflict with Native Americans 4. Major Conflicts on the Plains A) Battle of Little Bighorn - “Custer’s Last Stand” Native American forces led by Crazy Horse B) Wounded Knee After an attempt to arrest Sitting Bull that led to his death Tension between army and Sioux “Ghost Dancers” 200 Sioux killed including women and children 20 soldiers killed Final conflict on the Great Plains

C. Conflict with Native Americans 5. Other Native American leaders A) Chief Joseph - Nez Perce tribe Pacific Northwest Led his tribe on the “Long March” of over 1,000 miles in an attempt to reach Canada before being surrounded and surrendering B) Chief Geronimo - Apache tribe Southwest

C. Conflict with Native Americans 6. The Dawes Act A) Passed by Congress to break up reservation and tribal culture Wanted Native Americans to transition to life based on private property Did not result in much success and reservation life has continued to be a topic of disagreement through the present day

Do Now: A.Sitting Bull B. Custer C. Geronimo D.Chief JosephE. Crazy Horse 1)Led the victory at Little Bighorn 2)Defeated at Little Bighorn 3)Led the Apache Tribe 4)Led the Nez Perce Tribe 5)Symbolic leader of the Sioux Tribe

D. The Rise of Populism 1. Farmers Financial Problems A) The Homestead Act set land prices below fair market price in an attempt to encourage Western settlement 1) Too much supply of farming was the result and prices for farm products were therefore low, even though costs involved with farming (supplies, transportation) were high

D. The Rise of Populism 2. The National Grange A) Network of farmers’ groups that formed cooperatives 1) Cooperatives: a business owned by and operated for the entire group 3. Farmers’ Alliances A) Political organization that focused on government intervention to help farmers

D. The Rise of Populism 4. The Populist Party A) Party Platform (beliefs): Government ownership of railroads Replace the gold standard with “free silver” Would lead to inflation - an increase in prices Shorter hours for workers National income tax Direct election of United States Senators Many reforms favored by Populist would later happen due to the Progressive movement

Understanding Inflation Inflation: Increase in prices over a period of time Caused by too much money being put into circulation Value of money is decreased Purchasing Power: How much you can buy for “x” amount of dollars - goes down during inflation

D. The Rise of Populism B) 1896 Election - Highpoint of Populist Party Populist and Democratic Party co-nominated Populist William Jennings Bryan