1. Chapter 17 Rural America: The West and the New South
The American People, 6th ed.

2. I. Modernizing Agriculture
The expansion of American agriculture was inextricably tide to world demand
Many European nations had to import the bulk of their food, especially England
America’s new role as the agricultural center of the western world depended on technological innovation to make crop production more efficient
This often backfired as a surplus of foodstuffs caused the market price to fall

4. II. The West

5. The Great Plains
The Great Plains of the West initially discouraged traditional farmers, but cattlemen found the region perfect grazing land
By the end of the Civil War’s blockades, the southern plains were crowded with herds of cattle
Railroads changed the common views of the region and encouraged settlement

6. Cornucopia on the Pacific
Americans rushed to California to earn their share of the Gold Rush but usually ended up farming
Fresh fruits and vegetables became California's largest export

8. The Mining West
Thousands of settlers rushed west to join the mining craze of the 1840s
Silver, iron, copper, lead, zinc, and tin were as important as gold
Real mining required a large labor force and expensive machinery
Most independent miners panning streams never made their fortunes

11. Exploiting Natural Resources
The clear cutting of the nation’s forests were a byproduct of aggressive mining techniques and construction of towns and railroads
Removal of the forests changed the nature of soil composition, water flow, and the habitats of native animals
Many Americans became uneasy and called for government intervention and conservation

14. Resolving the Indian Question

15. The Plains Indians
The American government’s perspective was that all Native Americans must relocate in one of two areas: Oklahoma and South Dakota
Confined to reservations, the tribes would be transitioned into the white culture
Some tribes refused to comply and were systematically extinguished

17. IV. The New South

18. Cotton Still King
A new agricultural South with new class and economic arrangements emerged
High cotton prices immediately after the war persuaded southern farmers to grow as much cotton as possible; prices quickly spiraled downward, throwing the entire region into more debt and poverty

19. The Nadir of Black Life
In the late 1800s, many Congressional bills from Reconstruction aimed to support and assist the newly freed slaves were cast aside by a new generation of politicians

20. V. Farm Protest

21. The Grange
The earliest effort to organize white farmers was fronted by Oliver Kelley in 1867
Called the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry, the social club grew quickly to include more than 800,000
Now known as the National Grange, Kelley’s organization sought to reform the ways in which agricultural business was done; striving to bypass the middlemen such as railroad shippers and grain elevator owners
Their lobbying led to legislation regarding how railroads could be regulated for the common good of the country