1. Get out one sheet of notebook paper 2. Put a heading on the paper Title: New Land, New Beginnings

1. What purposes did forts serve during ? 2. How did the various tribes settle and govern themselves in Indian Territory during ?

Difficult New land to farm Different languages Rival tribes Free Little interaction with whites, unless they wanted to Golden Era of Indians

Used to control and protect Indians

It was mandated by the US Government that each tribe set up a government Part of assimilation Had constitutions and laws

These helped educate the young population of Indians.

Controlled hostile Indians Trafficked the illegal Whiskey trade

The US Government constantly added more tribes to Indian Territory.

What factors led Americans and immigrants to move and settle in the West?

Immigrants in the 1800s embraced the freedom of their new country The wanted to spread democratic beliefs across North America

Belief that American’s should expand their land and spread their beliefs and idealism – John O’Sullivan Why they moved? Births and immigration caused population to rise Cheap land and opportunity for wealth led some to move west Relocation of Indians Democracy was better than governments in Europe

Louisiana had been a buffer zone between Euro- Americans and the Spanish, but settlers came into the region. American settlers demanded protection from the federal government President James K. Polk worked out treaty over Oregon and annexed Texas

Mexican-American War ( ) secured much of the southwest for the U.S. Mexican-American War Gadsden Purchase (1853) set final border between U.S. and Mexico Gadsden Purchase

Indian Territory (later Oklahoma) was viewed as poor land for settlement (Capt. Benjamin Booneville) Settlers came THROUGH Oklahoma but did not stay.

Immigrants, someone who moved to a new country to settle, came from Europe in the early 1800’s, for various reasons. The United States promised a better life in the form of change, prosperity and democracy. First, the immigrants moved to the US because their lives in Europe were full of poverty and lack of opportunity. They came to America in search of jobs, money and land. Land, which was a part of the “American Dream” was plentiful and with the movement of Indians to Indian Territory and now available to any settler willing to make the journey and settle out West. Settlers, traders, and hunters were slowly pushed west to make money and seek personal opportunity. Secondly, they believed the government of the US was far better than the repressive governments of Europe and sought to carry those ideals from the east coast of the country to the West. Democracy offered every white male, regardless of their background, an opportunity to vote and have their voice heard. This form of government and the opportunity for prosperity offered freedoms to people who never had experienced it before.

What were the best methods of travel for settlers moving West?

1. Rivers best way to get around, but did not always flow in the direction travelers wanted to take Problems: Flooding or drought could affect river flow Boats could sink Technology Advancements: 1827: First steamboats 1831: Enterprise traveled up Red River to Kiamichi

2. Trails How they began? Many trails began as animal paths Old Indian trails also used Technological Advancements: Stagecoach Covered Wagon Caravan Why they went: 1848: Gold discovered in California; began a gold rush How long it took: Trails were rugged and dangerous, but took half the time of ship travel (6 months vs. 1 year) 4-15 miles a day

Santa Fe trail began in Independence, MO Cimarron Route went through Oklahoma Panhandle – shorter but drier than Rocky Mountain Route Osage Trace or Texas Road went from St. Louis, MO to Santa Fe through Oklahoma and Texas Stations along the road provided relief for stage coaches and other travelers

California Trail 1849: Fort Smith, AK across Oklahoma toward Santa Fe, NM (over 800 miles) Cherokee Trail – 1849 From Arkansas through northern Oklahoma, Cherokee Territory

Oregon Trail was more northerly; estimated 75,000 travelers west (Trails through Indian territory, more southerly, handled about 25,000 in the same year) 1851: Fort Arbuckle (near Davis) to protect immigrants and keep peace with Indians

3. Transcontinental Railroad: rail that spanned continent from Atlantic to Pacific oceans More organized land Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) divided and organized the territory north of Oklahoma Settlers entered these areas and plans for the railroad were begun

4.Butterfeild Overland Mail were used 1850s-1870s to haul mail and travelers The Butterfield Stage was famous company with a route across Oklahoma, Stations located along the way to get fresh horses and refresh travelers Choctaw and Chickasaw nations maintained roads and stations for a fee

What were the best methods of travel for settlers moving West? 1. Rivers Steamboats 2. Trails List examples 3. Railroad Limited use 4. Stagecoaches Examples