CONQUEST OF THE WEST Chapter 16
Societies of the Far West
Native Americans
Eastern Tribes *Some Eastern tribes had relocated west of Mississippi River: Cherokee and Creek
Western Tribes Indians of the Pacific Coast: Chumash, Chinook Indians of the Southwest: Navajo, Comanche, Apache
Plains Indian * various tribes divided into bands *some sedentary, most nomadic hunters *movement often based on migration of buffalo *finest light cavalry in the world
Weakness * Never able to unite against white aggression. Groups too independent *Conflicts between tribes distract from fighting whites one group may help whites against another group
Hispanic Communities *located in former possessions of Spain/Mexico: New Mexico, Texas, California *As more whites come Hispanics lose land and power
Chinese Migration *Begins after 1848 *by ,000 move to US – mostly California
Some resent Chinese Immigrants *resent success of Chinese *seen as rivals in economy
Transcontinental Railroad *over 12,000 work on RR *90% of Central Pacific labor *worked long hours for low pay
After Railroad finished: *some hire as laborers *some work the land *many go to cities
By % of Chinese population lives in cities of California “Chinatowns”
Nativism Returns *Chinese undercutting whites in wages and hours *Local laws appear *Physical Attacks
Chinese Exclusion Act *1882 *Bans immigration for 10 years *Bars Chinese in country from becoming naturalized citizens
Act renewed in 1892 Made permanent in 1902
Changing Western Economy
Labor in the West *Occasional labor shortage *work force stratified along racial lines
Mining *1 st economic boom of West * Gold and/or silver strikes: Colorado 59 Nevada 59 Black Hills 74
Ranching
How to get cattle in Texas to markets in the East? Cattle Drive
From 1867 to million head of cattle are brought to Abilene along the Chisholm Trail
Frederic Remington Myth of the Cowboy
Farming
Joseph Glidden
Closing the West
Frederick Jackson Turner The Frontier Thesis
The End of the American Indians End of the American Indian
Concentration Policy *Desire of whites to get Indian land *Each tribe assigned a reservation *Divided tribes-easy to control
Administration of Indian Reservations *officials often corrupt or ineffective
Indian Wars
Sand Creek Massacre *Arapaho & Cheyenne under Black Kettle *Flag of truce *133 killed most women & children
George Armstrong Custer
Battle of the Little Big Horn Custer’s Last Stand June 25, 1876
Nez Perce *Chief Joseph *200 warriors+350 w&c *attempt to go to Canada *cover 1321 miles
Final resistance in Southwest *Geronimo fights from Mexico *Surrenders in 1886 with 30 others *Pursued by 10,000
Chief Joseph
*Ghost Dancers-vision of Whites leaving *Wounded Knee-Sioux *40 soldiers 200 Sioux killed *1890 last ‘battle’
Dawes Act 1887 *Gradual elimination of tribal ownership of land *Give land to individuals *Don’t have full ownership for 25 years *Those who take land get citizenship *Send kids to school
Carlisle Indian Industrial School
Class of 09
Richard Henry Pratt Kill the Indian, save the man
Jim Thorpe
Commercial Farming *specialize in crops to be sold on National or World markets *cotton –70% exported *Wheat 30-40%
Farmer’s Grievances *Inequitable Freight rates *High interest rates *Inadequate Currency *Price fixing