1. Boomtown
Gold found>miners go west> Merchants move west> Stores open> Boomtowns created
Expensive-Money earned then lost to spending and gambling.
Violence, cheating, stealing, and crime common
Few law enforcement
Women opened schools and churches

2. Ghost Towns Gold and other ore runs out Miners leave
Merchants close stores and leave
Towns were abandoned

3. Homestead Act 160 acres of land to farm for 5 years
12% were single women
Unpredictable weather
No rain or too much rain
Brush fires
Fierce winds
Swarms of insects (i.e. grasshoppers)

4. Transcontinental Railroad
Trans- meaning coast to coast
Subsidy- gov’t loan to par for R.R.
Creation of western towns>large cities
Chinese, Irish, Mexican Immigrant workers
African American workers
Movement of people/goods coast to coast
Creation of time zones

5. Native American Struggles
Nomadic lifestyle
Dependence on buffalo
Moved onto reservations and “westernized”
Buffalo killed off by R.R. and for sport
Blocked tracks/destroyed trains
Hides and fur sold in eastern cities
Meat fed R.R. workers

6. Wounded Knee Dawes Act destroyed Nat. American culture and way of life
Thought to regain strength through Ghost Dance
Seen as threat to soldiers
300 Native Americans Slaughtered
Only 25 soldiers killed

7. Battle of Little Big Horn
Lt. Custer orders men to attack Nat. Americans when they refused to move onto reservations
All soldiers are killed by Sioux Tribe