1. Post Reconstruction Era

2. Economy in the South
By the end of the Reconstruction Era, the South’s economy had started to pick up again.
People spoke of a “New South” that used its vast natural resources to build up its own industry instead of depending on the North.
started building textile mills to turn cotton into cloth.
The tobacco industry grew.
the South tapped its mineral resources such as deposits of iron ore and coal, oil, lumber, copper, granite, and marble.

3. Cattle in the Plains

4. . In the 1860s, cattle ranching grew rapidly on the Great Plains.
Before this time, the Spanish, and then the Mexicans, had set up cattle ranches in the Southwest. Over the years, strays from these ranches, along with American breeds, grew into large herds of wild cattle. These wild cattle were known as longhorns. They roamed freely across the grassy plains of Texas.
After the Civil War, the demand for beef increased. People in the growing cities in the East were eating more meat. The Texas longhorns were perfect for the commercial market. They could travel far on little water, and they required no winter feeding.

5. Cattle drives: trips where ranchers drove the animals hundreds of miles north to railroad lines in larger cities.

6. Who worked on the cattle drives?
Ranchers employed cowhands to tend their cattle and drive herds to market. These hard workers rode alongside the huge herds in good and bad weather. They kept the cattle moving and rounded up strays. After the Civil War, veterans of the Confederate Army made up the majority of the cowhands who worked in Texas.
American cowhands learned much about riding, roping, and branding from Spanish and Mexican vaqueros (vah KEHR ohs). Vaqueros were skilled riders who herded cattle on ranches in Mexico, California, and the Southwest.

7. Cow Towns
cow town- a settlement that grew up at the end of a cattle trail
Many of the cow towns had dance halls, saloons, hotels, and restaurants that catered to the cowhands. Sheriffs often had a hard time keeping the peace. Some cowhands spent wild nights drinking, dancing, and gambling.

8. Homestead Act of 1862
-promised 160 acres of land to anyone who was the head of the household, who had not fought for the Confederacy, paid a small filing fee and improved the land over 5 years. Result - Many immigrants and easterners moved west to take advantage of the free land.

9. Morrill Acts
1st Act- offered states a land grant to build schools that would teach and promote scientific farming and engineering.
2nd Act-required states that had the land grants from the 1st act to admit students from all races OR set up colleges for African American students (segregation).

10. Life on the Plains
Many people lived in sodhouses – houses made out of soil held together by grass roots.
Life was difficult, living conditions were harsh. Pioneers worked extremely hard on the land and often lost their crop to things they couldn’t control, such as rain, flooding, draught, fires, etc.
Women made clothing, soap, candles and other goods by hand, acted as schoolteachers, cared for the sick, etc.

11. People’s Party
I892- farmers and labor unions joined to together to form the People’s Party also known as the Populists.
Wanted farm prices raised so they could earn more money, an income tax, 8 hour work day, and limits on immigration.

12. The Plains Indians

13. Little Big Horn and the Last Indian Wars

14. The Treaty of Ft. Laramie
1868 agreement with the Sioux Nation tribes
Promised tribes the sacred Black Hills
In return they must stop all attacks on settlers
Signing of Treaty of Fort Laramie, Wyoming

17. Gen. George A. Custer Gold discovered in the Black Hills
American prospectors flood the Dakota territory
Custer sent to protect prospectors in 1876
Custer in Civil War dress

18. “I am inclined to think that the occupation of this region of the country is not necessary to the happiness and prosperity of the Indians. As it is supposed to be rich in minerals and lumber, it is deemed important to have it freed as early as possible from Indian occupancy.”
Columbus Delano,
Secretary of the Interior
1872

19. “Look at me and look at the earth
“Look at me and look at the earth. It was our father’s and should be our children’s after us. If the white men take my country, where can I go? I have nowhere to go. I cannot spare it, and I love it very much. Let us alone.”
-Sitting Bull,
Lakota Sioux chief, 1877

20. The Battle of Little Big Horn
Custer & 7th Cavalry attack an Indian village in June 1876
In 20 minutes Lakota Sioux & Cheyenne led by Crazy Horse kill the entire cavalry
Known as “Custer’s Last Stand”

21. Massacre at Wounded Knee
Dec. 1890
7th Cavalry kill over 150 Lakota Sioux, many unarmed women and children
Ended the Indian Wars

23. Government Response Dawes Act – 1887
Tried to force assimilation of Native Americans
Broke up reservations and gave land to each family for farming
FAILED: because NA cheated out of best lands

24. Assimilation
Before
After

25. The Carlisle Indian Industrial School

27. Reservations Today