Later Westward Expansion

Trying to Get BIGGER! – Americans continue to settle to the West – Homestead Act Americans continue to farm land Spread out Including African Americans

American Indians American Indians had always been buffalo hunters – Millions of buffalo on Great plains – Indians continued to move to find food – Indians used every part of the buffalo. Meat – food Animal skins – clothes and teepees Bones – weapons and tools – Americans killed buffalo for sport Very offensive to Indians who saw that as not taking care of nature

Indians’ Trail of Tears BIG TROUBLES – Americans started to settle land in the west – Battles started to occur Many Indians were killed – American Indians forced onto reservations by U.S. – Trail of Tears So many died, thus named “Trail of Tears” 4,000 of 15,000 Cherokees died on the journey

Better Communication Such a big country – but how to travel and communicate? – Pony Express Mail by fast horseback lasted many months, until… – Transcontinental Telegraph System of dots and dashes sounds that translated into the alphabet – Morse Code

Better Transportation The Railroad is “a comin’” – Railroads needed to take Americans to the West faster Many in the east but few in the west – Many worked on the railroad African Americans, Mexican Americans Chinese Immigrants, Irish Immigrants Built through tall Rocky Mountains – Work was hazardous and dangerous – Many were killed

Transcontinental Railroad Union Pacific Railroad started in East – Omaha Nebraska Central Pacific Railroad started in West – Sacramento California Both lines connected at Promontory Point, Utah – A spike made of gold connected them – Completed May 1869 People could travel between the eastern states and California

“Enough is Enough” Indians upset because they were forced onto reservations – Many rebelled The Black Hills were seen as sacred – Americans built railroad through Indians’ land – Indians started to fight back

Custer’s Last Stand American soldiers sent to take care of Indian rebellion – They would not move onto a reservation Battle of Little Bighorn – General George Custer underestimated the strength of Indians Split his troops into separate groups Did not bring Gatling guns Made it easy for the Indians to pick off each group – Indians defeat 265 soldiers, including Custer

Wounded Knee Creek Fiasco U.S. Calvary demanded Indians give up all their weapons – Indians laid weapons before them – Calvary still doesn’t believe Start going through Indians’ tents and belongings Someone fired a shot Battle ensues Aftermath – 300 Native Americans killed by U.S. soldiers, many defenseless women and children

Review Describe how the Native Americans were treated by Americans during the era of westward expansion. What would be one way for the U.S. government to make up for what they did to the Native Americans?