Changes on the Western Frontier Chapter 5

Before 1877… American Civil War from The North wanted to preserve the Union The South wanted independence The big issue was States’ Rights The South lost; from known as Reconstruction Civil War Amendments: 13, 14, 15 Known as Reconstruction b/c we were trying to put the US back together, but also to rebuild the South where most fighting had occurred Southern way of life and economy was destroyed; many moved West to start over

Changes on the Frontier Ways Around the Law –Jim Crow Laws –Poll Taxes –Literacy Tests Why did they work?? Plessy vs. Ferguson, 1896 –Separate but Equal!

Changes on the Frontier Great Plains- –Intense heat and cold –Tornadoes –Hail –Wind (like a relentless plague) –Almost treeless and dry grasslands –“Last Frontier” or “American Desert”

Map of the Great Plains

Cultures Clash on the Prairie The Plains Indians 50% of Indians in North America lived on the Plains Buffalo was the basis of life: –Food –Shelter –Clothing

Settlers Push Westward How did cultures differ between Indians and Europeans? Factors Pushing Settlers West: –Gold Rush (get rich quick) –Starting over after Civil War –Desire to own land and farm –Adventure

Assimilation Define “Assimilation”: How did the “Dawes Act” try to assimilate Native Americans?

Cattle Becomes Big Business Open Ranges

Typical Cowboy

Cattle Becomes Big Business Open Ranges created a need for Cattle Drives

Transcontinental Railroad Two Major Companies involved in construction –Union Pacific –Central Pacific

Transcontinental Railroad

Union Pacific: –Would build WESTWARD from Omaha, Nebraska; large number of Irish immigrants worked; –$50 million to construct –Reality: $73 Million Central Pacific: –Would build EASTWARD from Sacramento California; large number of Chinese immigrants Completed in Met in Promontory, Utah

B.Settlers Meet Challenges of Plains: Who- immigrants, veterans, Southerners looking to make a new start, Exodusters, miners Why were each of these groups moving West?

Solutions to an Easier Life Barbed Wire –Protected Farmers’ Crops Dry Farming –Soil better maintained moisture Iron Plow Windmill Sod Houses

Sod house in Nebraska

Sod house and windmill

Bonanza or Commercial Farm New farming technique Large single-crop farms of thousands of acres Mass produced crops- increased supply affected prices HOW SO??? Higher RR costs and higher financing rates increased farmers debt; led to many business failures