1. Question: When you hear the phrase… “The West” what do you think of? Write down at least two things in your notebook.

2. How about dem’Cowboys? One out of three cowboys were African American.

3. Settlers and Natives Collide  The western US was considered all of the land west of the Mississippi River.  The two cultures conflicted on military and cultural grounds.  N.A.s were semi-nomadic and hunted and gathered their food.  Settlers were stationary, industrialized, and their source of food came from ploughed fields.

4.  In 1869 the Transcontinental Railroad crossed the US from shore to shore. It allowed people to travel to the west easier. Railroad contracts to remove N.A.s?  N.A.s relied on the buffalo for everything. As trains would pass, people shot the buffalo for shooting practice, or just for their hides.  In 1900, only 1,000 buffalo were on the plains. Food shortages for N.A.s developed and they became dependent on the government just to survive. (Buffalo Picture Handout)

7. European Settlers  Settlers believed that N.A.s had given up their right to the land because they had not settled down and farmed on it.  Boom towns rose over night in California, Colorado, and Nevada due to precious metal strikes.  These early towns were nothing but shacks, dirt streets, wooden sidewalks.

9. Farming the Great Plains  John Deere, an IL blacksmith, developed a steel plow to sow tough prairie grass and soil.  Homestead Act 1862- 160 acres of free land to anyone who could cultivate the land for 5 years.  Wagon trains formed, and the journey was long, uncomfortable and dangerous.  400-600,000 people from crowded towns, immigrants, A.A.s, or those seeking adventure came from 1862-1900.

10. Stampeding Cattle run you over. Dangers of the Prairie Locusts (grasshoppers) eat all of your crops. Rattlesnakes can be found in the tall prairie grasses.

12. McCormick reaper, early 1900s John Deere Combine, 2007

13. Assimilation/Genocide?  Assimilation- N.A.s living as Europeans.  Genocide- massacres. “A good Indian is a dead Indian.” N.A.s would leave the reservation because they were starving. US Government would kill N.A.s because they left.  Most N.A. massacres were called “battles” in order to make the N.A.s look like the “bad guys,” and to make the US Government look more powerful.

14. Sand Creek Massacre  In Sand Creek, Colorado, a group of N.A.s raided a nearby town for food. The militia was sent out. The N.A.s were to either give themselves up or die.  N.A.s stayed on the reservation, waved the US flag and a white flag.  The militia killed 200 mostly women and children to send a message. The army officer who ordered the attack was considered a hero.

15. The Cutting of My Long Hair  How would you have felt if you were in her situation?  What would you have done to prevent it from happening? 3 yrs later

16. Carlisle Boarding School for Native Americans

17. Outlaws and Lawmen of the West  For each one of the outlaws, create a wanted poster in your notebook. You must have a major reason why they are outlaws listed, and include a picture. Example: For Each of the lawmen, create an “Honor Roll”. Same concept, just reasons why they are good. WANTED! Billy the KID For……! 1,000 Dollar Reward! Preferably Dead.

18. Last Hanging in Rockford