Chapter 5 THE WESTERN CROSSROADS The American Nation In the Modern Era 4/8/2017 Chapter 5 THE WESTERN CROSSROADS Section 1: War in the West Section 2: Western Farmers Section 3: The Cattle Boom Section 4: The Mining Boom CHAPTER 5--THE WESTERN CROSSROADS

Objectives: Section 1: War in the West Why did the U.S. government create the American Indian reservation system? What were the sources of conflict between the Plains Indians and the U.S. government? How did Chief Joseph, Geronimo, and Sarah Winnemucca respond to whites’ treatment of American Indians? How did the U.S. government try to assimilate American Indians?

The reservation system Section 1: War in the West The reservation system created to serve desire for farmland and gold gave government control of American Indians provided opportunity for assimilation of American Indians

The Plains Indians and the U.S. government Section 1: War in the West The Plains Indians and the U.S. government conflicts over land and reservations conflicts over broken promises and treaties conflicts over the Ghost Dance

Chief Joseph’s response Section 1: War in the West Chief Joseph’s response agreed to move tribe to a reservation fled from the U.S. Army and eventually surrendered

Geronimo’s response Section 1: War in the West fled reservation with his tribe; raided settlements eventually surrendered

Sarah Winnemucca’s response Section 1: War in the West Sarah Winnemucca’s response called attention to problems made speeches; participated in political activities

Assimilation attempts Section 1: War in the West Assimilation attempts establishment of reservations creation of Indian schools passage of the Dawes Act

Objectives: Section 2: Western Farmers How did the U.S. government promote economic development in the West? Why did people migrate west? How did the environment influence farming practices and daily life in the West? What difficulties did farm families face on the Great Plains?

Promotion of economic development Section 2: Western Farmers Promotion of economic development Homestead Act permitted any citizen or intended citizen to have 160 acres of land. Pacific Railway Act gave lands to railroad companies to develop the transcontinental railroad. Morrill Act provided more than 17 million acres of land whose sale was to finance agricultural and engineering colleges.

Migration west Section 2: Western Farmers White Americans sought cheaper lands or wanted to make a new start. African Americans wanted to escape persecution in the South. Scandinavians had “America Fever.” Irish moved west after building railroads. Russian Mennonites moved after Russian czar ended their exemption from military service. Chinese came during Gold Rush and turned to farming.

Environmental influence Section 2: Western Farmers Environmental influence Lack of water and strong winds led to dry farming and irrigation. Lack of trees led to use of buffalo manure as fuel and building material. Harsh winters led to use of new varieties of wheat that withstood the weather.

Difficulties for farm families Section 2: Western Farmers Difficulties for farm families poor housing blizzards and cold weather droughts insects prairie fires backbreaking work

Objectives: Section 3: The Cattle Boom How did cattle and sheep ranching develop in the West? What was life like for cowboys and residents of cattle towns? What were ranches like? Why did the cattle boom on the open range end?

Development of cattle ranching Section 3: The Cattle Boom Development of cattle ranching introduction of the Texas longhorn expansion of eastern beef market

Development of sheep ranching Section 3: The Cattle Boom Development of sheep ranching introduced by Spanish also done by American Indians market expansion sparked by Gold Rush

Cowboy life Section 3: The Cattle Boom demanding working conditions isolation trail drives

Town life Section 3: The Cattle Boom busy from spring to fall from cattle drives businesses attracted by the money that cowboys received at end of drive families followed businesses

Ranches Section 3: The Cattle Boom hard work for both genders lonely centered around roundup

End of the cattle boom Section 3: The Cattle Boom cattle glut invention of barbed wire depletion of grass bad weather

Objectives: Section 4: The Mining Boom What role did mining play in bringing more people west? How did the arrival of families change life in mining camps? Why did large companies take over most mining operations, and how did this change the lives of miners?

Role of mining Section 4: The Mining Boom Mining attracted people to the West by presenting the possibility of great wealth.

Arrival of families Section 4: The Mining Boom Families brought stability and transformed temporary towns into permanent ones. Families brought law and order. Families established churches, newspapers, schools, and cultural establishments.

Takeover by large companies Section 4: The Mining Boom Takeover by large companies It was expensive to mine the deep, less accessible deposits. Technology rather than luck required to locate deposits. Miners became laborers for corporations rather than self-employed individuals. Working conditions in mines were dangerous. Some miners formed unions to get better wages and working conditions.