1. The West: Exploiting an Empire

2. Culture of the Plains Indians Easterners knew very little about the world east of the Mississippi River. Easterners knew very little about the world east of the Mississippi River. In the Great Plains, the grassland extended through the central portion of the U.S. In the Great Plains, the grassland extended through the central portion of the U.S. Farther west, nomadic tribes such as the Sioux and Cheyenne gathered wild foods and hunted. Farther west, nomadic tribes such as the Sioux and Cheyenne gathered wild foods and hunted.

3. The Horse and the Buffalo After the Spanish brought horses to New Mexico in 1598, the Native American way of life began to change. After the Spanish brought horses to New Mexico in 1598, the Native American way of life began to change. –Native Americans became skilled horsemen and eventually great with guns. –By the mid 1700s, almost all the tribes on the Great Plains had left their farms to roam the plains and hunt buffalo. Increase mobility led to confrontations with other tribes. Increase mobility led to confrontations with other tribes. Plains warrior gained more honor by “counting coup” than killing the enemy. Plains warrior gained more honor by “counting coup” than killing the enemy. –This was done by touching the enemy with a coup stick. The buffalo provided many of their basic needs and was central to the life of the Plains Indians. The buffalo provided many of their basic needs and was central to the life of the Plains Indians.

4. Family Life Native Americans usually lived in small extended family groups with ties to other bands that spoke the same language. Native Americans usually lived in small extended family groups with ties to other bands that spoke the same language. –men hunt, trade, supervise ceremonial activities, clear ground for planting –women responsible for child rearing, art, camp work, gardening, food preparation –There was sensitivity to medicine men or shamans.

5. Settlers Push Westward Unlike Native Americans, who believed that land could not be owned, the settlers believed that owning land, making a mining claim, or starting a business would give them a stake in the country. Unlike Native Americans, who believed that land could not be owned, the settlers believed that owning land, making a mining claim, or starting a business would give them a stake in the country. Settlers argued that Native Americans had forfeited their right to the land because they hadn’t tried to improve it. Settlers argued that Native Americans had forfeited their right to the land because they hadn’t tried to improve it. The Lure of Silver & Gold The Lure of Silver & Gold –The discovery of Gold in Colorado in 1858 drew tens of thousands of miners to the region. –Many of the mining towns were filthy and originated on Native American lands.

6. The Government Restricts Native Americans Indian Intercourse Act of 1834 excludes any white from Indian country without a license Indian Intercourse Act of 1834 excludes any white from Indian country without a license Land was regarded as an Indian preserve Land was regarded as an Indian preserve Native American Restrictions Massacre at Sand Creek 1864 Col. John Chivington Nov. 29, 1864 Death on the Bozeman Trail Red Cloud Sitting Bull Treaty of Fort Laramie

7. Bloody Battles Continue The Treaty of Fort Laramie provided only a temporary halt to warfare. The Treaty of Fort Laramie provided only a temporary halt to warfare. Bloody Battles Red River War Gold Rush Custer’s Last Stand 1876

8. Government Support of Assimilation Many sympathizers supported assimilation, a plan under which Native Americans would give up their beliefs and way of life and become part of the white culture. Many sympathizers supported assimilation, a plan under which Native Americans would give up their beliefs and way of life and become part of the white culture. The Dawes Act Destruction of The Buffalo

9. Battle of Wounded Knee The Sioux continued to suffer poverty and disease. In desperation, they turned to a Paiute prophet who promised that if the Sioux performed a ritual called the “Ghost Dance”, Native American lands and way of life would be restored. The Sioux continued to suffer poverty and disease. In desperation, they turned to a Paiute prophet who promised that if the Sioux performed a ritual called the “Ghost Dance”, Native American lands and way of life would be restored. Military leaders ordered the arrest of Sitting Bull. Military leaders ordered the arrest of Sitting Bull. Wounded Knee Wounded Knee –Dec. 29, 1890—7 th Calvary (Custer’s Old regiment) rounded up 350 starving Sioux to camp at Wounded Knee. –Soldiers demanded that Native Americans give up all their weapons.

10. Cattle Becomes Big Business As the great herds of buffalo disappeared and Native Americans were forced onto smaller and less desirable reservations, horses and cattle flourished on the plains. As the great herds of buffalo disappeared and Native Americans were forced onto smaller and less desirable reservations, horses and cattle flourished on the plains. Cattle Business Cowboys/Vaqueros Longhorns Growing Demand For Beef Kansas City Chicago Ft. Worth Cow Town Chisholm Trail

11. The End of the Open Range As quickly as ranching became big business, the cattle frontier met its end. As quickly as ranching became big business, the cattle frontier met its end. Overgrazing of the land, extended bad weather, and the invention of barbed wire were largely responsible. Overgrazing of the land, extended bad weather, and the invention of barbed wire were largely responsible. Ranchers fenced the land with barbed wire, invented by farmer Joseph F. Glidden. Ranchers fenced the land with barbed wire, invented by farmer Joseph F. Glidden.

12. Settling on the Great Plains Settlers on the Great Plains transformed the land despite great hardships. Settlers on the Great Plains transformed the land despite great hardships. Federal land policy and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad made this rapid settlement possible. Federal land policy and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad made this rapid settlement possible. RXR Open the West Gov’t Support for Settlement Homestead Act Exodusters Closing the Frontier 1872- Yellowstone

13. Settlers Meet the Challenges of the Plains The frontier settlers faced extreme hardships-droughts, floods, fires, blizzards, raids by outlaws and Native Americans. The frontier settlers faced extreme hardships-droughts, floods, fires, blizzards, raids by outlaws and Native Americans. Despite the hardships, population on the frontier continued to rise. Despite the hardships, population on the frontier continued to rise. Challenges of the Plains Soddies Women’s Work Tech. Support for Farmers Ag. Education Morrill Act Farmers Debt Bonaza Farms

14. Farmers and the Populist Movement Farmers united to address their economic problems giving rise to the Populist movement. Farmers united to address their economic problems giving rise to the Populist movement. In the late 1800s, prices were falling, and farmers mortgaged their farms so that they could buy more land and produce crops. In the late 1800s, prices were falling, and farmers mortgaged their farms so that they could buy more land and produce crops. Farmers Unite Economic Distress Greenbacks Retired 1867-1887-wheat fell Bland-Allison Act Problems w/RXR Charged high prices Farmers’ Alliance Oliver Hudson Kelley The Grange Farmers’ Alliance

15. The Rise & Fall of Populism Populism-the movement of the people. Populism-the movement of the people. 1892- the Populist Party demanded reforms to lift the burden of debt from farmers and other workers and to give the people a greater voice in their government. 1892- the Populist Party demanded reforms to lift the burden of debt from farmers and other workers and to give the people a greater voice in their government. Populist Party Platform Populist Party Platform –An increase in the money supply –A graduated income tax –A federal loan program Panic of 1893 Panic of 1893 –Farmers overwhelmed with debts –RXR expanded faster than the market developed –Gold reserves wore thin –Stock market crashed –Silver plunged

16. Rise & Populism cont’ Silver or Gold? Silver or Gold? –Industrialize North-Republicans –Agrarian South- Democrats –“Silverites”- favored bimetallism  Govt. would give gold or silver in exchange for paper money –“Gold Bugs”-gold standard  Backs the dollar solely on gold –Paper money was considered worthless  Silver was more plentiful than gold  Gold would provide more stability, but expensive, currency “Cross of Gold” Speech “Cross of Gold” Speech –1896 Campaign –Rep.- William McKinley- gold standard –Dem.- William Jennings Bryan- bimetallism-free coinage of silver McKinley wins election-Populism ends McKinley wins election-Populism ends