What is prospecting? Extracting minerals from the ground Gold, copper, silver, and other metals (later—oil) Placer mining Simple tools (shovels, pans, and sluices) for shallow minerals Quartz (reef) mining Using explosives and mine shafts deep beneath the surface Quartz contained gold What is prospecting?

How did mining affect the Western US? Discovery of materials created bonanzas Sudden abundance of wealth/materials Rapid expansion of towns Boomtowns Vigilante justice—outside the law Leadville Thousands of incomers per week $20 billion of silver and gold in today’s money Comstock Lode Mud outside a Nevada town turns out to be silver/gold ore 30,000 flock to the town How did mining affect the Western US?

What is ranching? Ranching is raising livestock for meat & hides Ranching wasn’t practical until… Longhorns survived on the Plains Civil War raised price of meat Supply↓, demand↑= cost↑ Supply↑, demand↓= cost↓ Railroads could transport cattle Open range Huge body of grassland on plains owned by the gov’t (no fences) Open for herds to graze for free What is ranching?

How did ranching affect the Western US? Cowboys and the Long Drive 8-12 cowboys could escort herds with as many as 3,000 cattle Texas  Midwest  Railroads  East Coast High demand: Eastern US paid 10x more than TX Major trails like Chisholm Trail Death of the open range & long drive Increase in competition (supply) decreased price Government sold land to settlers Fenced off with barbed wire How did ranching affect the Western US?

Why did Americans start settling on the plains? Railroads made the plains accessible Railroads sold land cheaply Homestead Act, 1862 Up to 160 acres for a $10 fee Improve land and receive title after five years New technology made dry farming possible Steel plows & seed drills could plant seeds below surface where there was more moisture McCormick reaper made harvesting easier Why did Americans start settling on the plains?

Tough on livestock & humans alike Extreme temperatures: Above 100°F in summer & sub-zero temps in winter Tough on livestock & humans alike Extremely arid Had to drill up to 300 feet for water Swarms of bugs Plagues of locusts destroyed crops Very few trees No protection from wind = big storms Wind erosion destroyed dry topsoil No wood; houses made of sod (mud) 30-60 million buffalo Dangers of stampedes, trampling of crops What kind of hardships did settlers face?

How did farming affect the Western US? Wheat Belt US became largest exporter of what by 1880s Competition from other countries hurt farmers Many families lost their land due to tough conditions Birth of commercial farming Bonanza farms = 50,000 acres or larger Hired poor, desperate family farmers and purchased their land How did farming affect the Western US?

Who were the Plains Indians? Nomadic lifestyles Followed main source of food—buffalo Gender roles Women raised children, prepared food and clothes Men were hunters, traders, and warriors Spiritual religion Based on nature Government Small councils of elders, but most tribal members had input Who were the Plains Indians?

Reservations on undesirable land Indian Peace Commission Relocation to Reservations Indian Removal Act, 1830 Trail of Tears Reservations on undesirable land Violent, impoverished, and corrupt Indian Peace Commission US Army sent to deal with any resistance Annuities Annual payments made to reservation dwellers Cheap, usually stolen by American traders What policies did the US gov’t enact towards the Plains Indians?

Assimilation Absorbing Native Americans into American society Very difficult after years of mistrust Allotments Reservation territory divided and given to Native American families Rest sold to American settlers What policies did the US gov’t enact towards the Plains Indians?