Looking to the West Chapter 8

I. Moving West: Before the C.W.: Americans had settled the areas just west of the Miss. River (MO, NE, KA, etc.) and the southern Pacific coast (CA) Before the C.W.: Americans had settled the areas just west of the Miss. River (MO, NE, KA, etc.) and the southern Pacific coast (CA) After the C.W.: Began to settle the areas in between (Great Plains, Southwest, Pacific Northwest) After the C.W.: Began to settle the areas in between (Great Plains, Southwest, Pacific Northwest)

I. Moving West: 2 Laws encouraged settlement of the West: 2 Laws encouraged settlement of the West: 1) Morrill Land-Grant Act (1862) -federal gov’t gave millions of acres to state gov’ts to be sold to fund state colleges -land was sold for.50 an acre to bankers and land speculators (people who bought large areas of land hoping to sell it for a profit later)

I. Moving West: 2) Homestead Act (1862) -offered 160 acres of land to anyone who met the following: a. Must be at least 21 or the head of the family b. Had to be an Am. citizen or an immigrant applying for citizenship immigrant applying for citizenship c. Had to pay a $10 registration fee c. Had to pay a $10 registration fee

I. Moving West: d. Had to build a house and live on the land at least 6 months out of the year land at least 6 months out of the year e. Had to farm the land for 5 years before claiming ownership claiming ownership By 1900: 600,000 families had claimed 80 million acres in the West By 1900: 600,000 families had claimed 80 million acres in the West

I. Moving West: Problems on the homestead: Problems on the homestead: -little farming experience -poor soil -lack of water -extreme climates (very hot or very cold) -loneliness -lack of trees for building -grasshopper and locust plagues

I. Moving West: Families often lived in sod houses (soddies) – made of dirt and grass (i.e. sod) Families often lived in sod houses (soddies) – made of dirt and grass (i.e. sod) Settlers had to work together to survive – built houses and barns together, farmed together, etc. Settlers had to work together to survive – built houses and barns together, farmed together, etc.

I. Moving West: Most of the settlers were white – however, approximately 50,000 African Am.’s moved west after the C.W. to escaped racism – they were called exodusters Most of the settlers were white – however, approximately 50,000 African Am.’s moved west after the C.W. to escaped racism – they were called exodusters Women faced loneliness because the men were often forced to find work elsewhere – women also fought for the right to vote – Wyoming was the first state to grant women suffrage in 1890 Women faced loneliness because the men were often forced to find work elsewhere – women also fought for the right to vote – Wyoming was the first state to grant women suffrage in 1890

II. Conflict with Native Americans 1830s: several eastern N.A. tribes were forced to settle in Indian Territory, present-day Oklahoma – tribes included: Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, etc. 1830s: several eastern N.A. tribes were forced to settle in Indian Territory, present-day Oklahoma – tribes included: Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, etc. The expansion of railroads threatened N.A. lands in the Great Plains region – many Plains Indians were forced to reservations (federal land set aside for N.A.’s) The expansion of railroads threatened N.A. lands in the Great Plains region – many Plains Indians were forced to reservations (federal land set aside for N.A.’s)

II. Conflict with Native Americans Chivington / Sand Creek Massacre (1864) Chivington / Sand Creek Massacre (1864) -Col. John Chivington’s men killed peaceful Cheyenne men, women, and children in present-day Colorado Battle of Little Bighorn (1876) Battle of Little Bighorn (1876) -Gen. George Custer and 200+ soldiers were killed by the Sioux, led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, in Montana – “Custer’s Last Stand”

II. Conflict with Native Americans Massacre at Wounded Knee (1890) Massacre at Wounded Knee (1890) -on a reservation in South Dakota unarmed Sioux were killed while handing over weapons

II. Conflict with Native Americans Chief Joseph Chief Joseph -leader of the Nez Perce in NW U.S. -promised his father that he would never sell their homeland -ordered to move to a reservation and Joseph decided to give in -before he did so, a group of young warriors attacked some white settlers

II. Conflict with Native Americans -Joseph wanted to stay and fight but decided to run along with his entire tribe -defeated less than 40 miles from Canada -said, “I am tired of fighting…I will fight no more forever.” -sent to Indian Territory

II. Conflict with Native Americans How was the N.A. culture destroyed? How was the N.A. culture destroyed? 1) Buffalo were killed – used for food, clothing, shelter, fuel, tools, and weapons 2) Dawes Act (1887) – gave land to the head of the family to be farmed – whites were trying to “Americanize” the N.A.’s – problem: they were not farmers

II. Conflict with Native Americans Fate of Indian Territory: Fate of Indian Territory: -settlers began to try to take the land after the C.W. – the Indians protested -1889: Congress opened up 2 million acres for settlement that had not been given to the Indians -Oklahoma Land Rush (Apr. 22, 1889) – settlers were called boomers – those that cheated and went early were called sooners

III. Farming, Mining, Ranching A. Farming: New technology and methods made farming the dry Great Plains easier: New technology and methods made farming the dry Great Plains easier: -used dry farming – planting crops that do not require a lot of water (corn, wheat) -steel plow, steel windmill, cornhusker, cornbinder

III. Farming, Mining, Ranching Bonanza Farms – farms controlled by large businesses and professionals Bonanza Farms – farms controlled by large businesses and professionals -specialized in one crop – mass production -led to a surplus which dropped the prices at the market and led to debt for all farmers

III. Farming, Mining, Ranching B. Mining: 1849: CA gold rush – 49ers 1849: CA gold rush – 49ers 1859: gold found at Pike’s Peak, CO and silver at Virginia City, NV – 59ers 1859: gold found at Pike’s Peak, CO and silver at Virginia City, NV – 59ers Mining brought people from all nationalities to the frontier – Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, etc. Mining brought people from all nationalities to the frontier – Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, etc.

III. Farming, Mining, Ranching Miners usually worked in small groups and many used placer mining – shoveled loose dirt from streams into boxes Miners usually worked in small groups and many used placer mining – shoveled loose dirt from streams into boxes Boom towns – when gold or silver was discovered in a location, a town was built Boom towns – when gold or silver was discovered in a location, a town was built Ghost towns remained when the miners left Ghost towns remained when the miners left Large businesses got involved in mining – dug into the mountains Large businesses got involved in mining – dug into the mountains

III. Farming, Mining, Ranching C. Ranching: most of the cattle ranches were in Texas – began in the early 1800s – raised Texas Longhorns most of the cattle ranches were in Texas – began in the early 1800s – raised Texas Longhorns White ranchers learned from Mexicans – adopted several Spanish words: coral, chaps, lariat, rodeo, etc. White ranchers learned from Mexicans – adopted several Spanish words: coral, chaps, lariat, rodeo, etc.

III. Farming, Mining, Ranching Cattle industry boomed during the 1860s and 1870s with the increased population in the East Cattle industry boomed during the 1860s and 1870s with the increased population in the East Early 1800s: $3 to $5 a head Early 1800s: $3 to $5 a head After C.W.: $30 to $50 a head After C.W.: $30 to $50 a head Cattle was first driven all the way to major mid-western cities – esp. Chicago and St. Louis Cattle was first driven all the way to major mid-western cities – esp. Chicago and St. Louis

III. Farming, Mining, Ranching 1867: the first cow town was est. by Joseph McCoy in Abilene, KA – other cow towns emerged (ex: Cheyenne, WY; Dodge City, KA; Sedalia, MO) 1867: the first cow town was est. by Joseph McCoy in Abilene, KA – other cow towns emerged (ex: Cheyenne, WY; Dodge City, KA; Sedalia, MO) Cattle were now driven north from TX to these new cow towns and then placed on a train and sent East Cattle were now driven north from TX to these new cow towns and then placed on a train and sent East Cattle trails included: Goodnight-Loving, Western, Chisholm, and Sedalia Trails Cattle trails included: Goodnight-Loving, Western, Chisholm, and Sedalia Trails

III. Farming, Mining, Ranching Long Drive / Cattle Drive – the moving of cattle from TX to the cow towns Long Drive / Cattle Drive – the moving of cattle from TX to the cow towns Problems on the Drive: Problems on the Drive: 1) Rivers difficult to cross 2) Native American attacks 3) Cattle thieves (rustlers) 4) Stampedes 5) Weather

III. Farming, Mining, Ranching Positions of the cowboys: Positions of the cowboys: -Point – rode in front of the herd -Flank – rode beside the herd -Drag – rode behind the herd

III. Farming, Mining, Ranching Each Drive Consisted of: Each Drive Consisted of: -Trail Boss – rode point – most experienced – in charge -Cowboys – per drive – depended on size of the herd – some were in charge of the extra horses (horse wrangler) -Cattle – up to 2,500 head -Cook – usually Mexican – rode in front of the herd with supplies and food in a chuckwagon

III. Farming, Mining, Ranching The cattle boom ended in the mid-1800s – Why? The cattle boom ended in the mid-1800s – Why? 1) Barbed wire fences – invented by Joseph Glidden – farmers used it to keep out grazing cattle – led to the disappearance of the open range 2) Overstocking of cattle – led to lower prices at the market

III. Farming, Mining, Ranching 3) Overgrazing of cattle – the grass began to disappear 4) Harsh Climate – from 1885 to 1887 there were droughts in the summer and harsh winters – caused many cattle to die

IV. Frontier Myths and Realities One by one, areas of the West became United States territories – as populations increased, these territories applied for statehood One by one, areas of the West became United States territories – as populations increased, these territories applied for statehood Many of the farmers in the West were deep in debt due to declining market prices and the high cost of farm equipment Many of the farmers in the West were deep in debt due to declining market prices and the high cost of farm equipment

IV. Frontier Myths and Realities 1872: federal gov’t established Yellowstone National Park to preserve western lands 1872: federal gov’t established Yellowstone National Park to preserve western lands -located in northwest WY, southern MT, and eastern ID -the first national park Despite this step, in 1890 the Census Bureau announced the end of the frontier Despite this step, in 1890 the Census Bureau announced the end of the frontier

IV. Frontier Myths and Realities 1893: a young historian named Fredrick Jackson Turner delivered a speech in which he claimed that the frontier had played a central role in forming the Am. character (Turner Frontier Thesis) 1893: a young historian named Fredrick Jackson Turner delivered a speech in which he claimed that the frontier had played a central role in forming the Am. character (Turner Frontier Thesis) -said settlers in the West were forced to shed their old ways and “adapt, innovate, and invent”

IV. Frontier Myths and Realities -frontier life had created Americans who were ready for adventure and committed to democracy Not all western settlers were white: Not all western settlers were white: -Chinese and Japanese settlers farmed the West Coast -Chinese and African Am. railroad workers often established businesses in western towns

IV. Frontier Myths and Realities The cost to the environment was high: The cost to the environment was high: -settlers treated natural resources as if they were unlimited -railroad tunnels destroyed mountains -mines scarred the land and leveled forest -buffalo were almost wiped out

IV. Frontier Myths and Realities The romantic image of the cowboy began as early as the 1870s, in dime novels – outlaws, miners, gang leaders, cowboys, lawmen became heroes The romantic image of the cowboy began as early as the 1870s, in dime novels – outlaws, miners, gang leaders, cowboys, lawmen became heroes 1883: William F. (“Buffalo Bill”) Cody began his Wild West shows – drew 1000s of people – steer-roping contests, rodeos, battles between the cavalry (“good”) and the Indians (“bad”) 1883: William F. (“Buffalo Bill”) Cody began his Wild West shows – drew 1000s of people – steer-roping contests, rodeos, battles between the cavalry (“good”) and the Indians (“bad”)