Ch.16 The West

Western Migration After Civil War—big migration from East After Civil War—big migration from East Horace Greeley— “Go West Young Man.” Horace Greeley— “Go West Young Man.” Homestead Act (1862)—1 st = 160 acres for 5-years. Homestead Act (1862)—1 st = 160 acres for 5-years.

Western Tribes Variety of tribes Variety of tribes Cherokee/Creek forced to go to “Indian Territory” (Oklahoma). Cherokee/Creek forced to go to “Indian Territory” (Oklahoma). Pueblos Pueblos

Plains Indians Diverse Diverse Some farmed Some farmed Nomadic hunters Nomadic hunters Buffalo Buffalo Strong opposition to whites at 1 st. Strong opposition to whites at 1 st. Ultimately dominated—lack of unity, disease, & technological inferiority. Ultimately dominated—lack of unity, disease, & technological inferiority.

Decline of the Buffalo Demand for hides Demand for hides Interfered with the railroads. Interfered with the railroads —15- million to less than 1, —15- million to less than 1,000

Dispersal of Tribes Reservation Policy Reservation Policy Fort Laramie Treaty (1868) Fort Laramie Treaty (1868) Oklahoma and Dakotas Oklahoma and Dakotas Run by Bureau of Indian Affairs Run by Bureau of Indian Affairs

Gold in the Black Hills Discovery of Gold leads to whites going into reservation territory of Dakota Territory. Discovery of Gold leads to whites going into reservation territory of Dakota Territory. Natives begin to resist. Natives begin to resist. Govt. tries to buy land, but Natives say “no.” Govt. tries to buy land, but Natives say “no.” Govt. says they need to move. Govt. says they need to move. Says all not on new reservation land by 1876 would be considered hostile. Says all not on new reservation land by 1876 would be considered hostile.

Conflict with Indians After the Civil War, troops sent west. After the Civil War, troops sent west. William T. Sherman is in charge. William T. Sherman is in charge. Fighting is savage Fighting is savage Little Big Horn (Montana, 1876) “Custer’s Last Stand” Little Big Horn (Montana, 1876) “Custer’s Last Stand”

Scalping

Sitting Bull Chief who led those who resisted moving from Black Hills to new reservations. Chief who led those who resisted moving from Black Hills to new reservations. After Little big Horn, fled to Canada. After Little big Horn, fled to Canada. Eventually surrendered. Eventually surrendered. Participated in Wild West Shows. Participated in Wild West Shows. Killed while being arrested to prevent his support of the Ghost Dance. Killed while being arrested to prevent his support of the Ghost Dance.

Crazy Horse Leader of Lakota Sioux Leader of Lakota Sioux Led victorious Native forces at Little big Horn. Led victorious Native forces at Little big Horn. Eventually Surrenders and is killed while a captive. Eventually Surrenders and is killed while a captive.

Buffalo Soldiers 1/5 of US military in west were African Americans. 1/5 of US military in west were African Americans. Indians called them “Buffalo Soldiers” Indians called them “Buffalo Soldiers”

Ghost Dance Promise of revival of traditional culture and revenge on whites. Ghost Shirts Ghost Shirts US army tries to stop Indians from performing. US army tries to stop Indians from performing.

Wounded Knee 1890—Infamous massacre. 1890—Infamous massacre. Over 200 Native Americans are killed. Over 200 Native Americans are killed. Effectively ended Native resistance until the 1960s. Effectively ended Native resistance until the 1960s.

Dawes Act Dawes Act (1887) —eliminates tribal land and provided individual land. Forced Assimilation. Schools set up to make Indians into “Americans” Dawes Act (1887) —eliminates tribal land and provided individual land. Forced Assimilation. Schools set up to make Indians into “Americans”

Helen Hunt Jackson A Century of Dishonor (1881) A Century of Dishonor (1881)

Hispanics Most are marginalized by the onslaught of Anglos. Most are marginalized by the onslaught of Anglos. Many lose land and become lower class workers Many lose land and become lower class workers

Warm Up Explain the significance of Plessey v. Ferguson. Explain the significance of Plessey v. Ferguson. What were some of the reasons that Reconstruction came to a n end? What were some of the reasons that Reconstruction came to a n end? What was the Dawes Act? What was the Dawes Act?

The Chinese Big surge immigrated to Cal. During Gold Rush. Big surge immigrated to Cal. During Gold Rush. Tax on foreign miners + racism. Tax on foreign miners + racism. Work on railroad/laundries Work on railroad/laundries Chinatowns Chinatowns Anti-Coolie clubs Anti-Coolie clubs Chinese Exclusion Act 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act 1882

Western Economy Mining Mining 1 st Gold and Silver 1 st Gold and Silver More long-lasting = aluminum, lead, tin, and zinc. More long-lasting = aluminum, lead, tin, and zinc. 1 st individuals—corporations. 1 st individuals—corporations.

Comstock Lode Silver in Silver in Nevada Nevada

Boom Towns Towns would spring up almost overnight where gold or silver was discovered. Towns would spring up almost overnight where gold or silver was discovered. When supply is all mined out, everybody would leave= “ghost towns” When supply is all mined out, everybody would leave= “ghost towns”

Cattle Ranching Followed patterns established by Mexicans/Texans Followed patterns established by Mexicans/Texans Open Range Open Range Branding, roundups, long drives. Branding, roundups, long drives.

Chisholm Trial

Mining/Ranching Communities Mostly men Mostly men Rowdy, lawlessness Rowdy, lawlessness Vigilantes Vigilantes

Women Married women performed traditional domestic duties. Married women performed traditional domestic duties. Single women = cooks, waitresses, tavern keepers, laundries, and prostitutes. Single women = cooks, waitresses, tavern keepers, laundries, and prostitutes. Some even owned ranches. Some even owned ranches. Western women could generally participate in politics. Western women could generally participate in politics. More women in west could vote. More women in west could vote. Why? Why?

Turner’s “Frontier Thesis” Frederick Jackson Turner Frederick Jackson Turner 1893 census says that the frontier is closed census says that the frontier is closed. Argued that the frontier was the most important aspect of American development. Argued that the frontier was the most important aspect of American development. Fostered individualism and democracy. Fostered individualism and democracy.

Romance of the West Glorification of West as East became more industrialized and urban. Glorification of West as East became more industrialized and urban. “Rocky Mountain School” “Rocky Mountain School”

Myth of the Cowboy Romanticized as manly, individualistic, free from regular social constraints and in touch with nature. Romanticized as manly, individualistic, free from regular social constraints and in touch with nature. Reality = low-paid, tedious, grueling and little chance for advancement. Reality = low-paid, tedious, grueling and little chance for advancement.

Wild West Shows “Buffalo Bill” Cody “Buffalo Bill” Cody Annie Oakley Annie Oakley

Frederic Remington

Western Farmers Flourished in the 1870s-early 1880s Flourished in the 1870s-early 1880s Mid 1880s = overproduction(& drought) in US farming and Agrarian crisis. Mid 1880s = overproduction(& drought) in US farming and Agrarian crisis. Transcontinental Railroad completed in Transcontinental Railroad completed in Allowed for more farmers in West Allowed for more farmers in West

Promontory Point, Utah (1869)

The Govt. and the RR’s Govt (both state and federal) gave many subsides to RR’s. Govt (both state and federal) gave many subsides to RR’s. Free land (land grants) Free land (land grants) Tax breaks Tax breaks

Farmers vs. Ranchers Competition for space created tensions. Competition for space created tensions. Range Wars Range Wars Eventually led to fencing and end of “Open Range” Eventually led to fencing and end of “Open Range”

Cattle Drive Trails

Characteristics of Western Farming Barbed Wire Barbed Wire Irrigation Irrigation Droughts in late 1880s ruin many western farmers. Droughts in late 1880s ruin many western farmers.

Commercial Agriculture Increased Commercialization. After Civil War, US agriculture became primarily an international biz (focus is on cash crops).. Increased Commercialization. After Civil War, US agriculture became primarily an international biz (focus is on cash crops).. Prices went down, though, due to: Prices went down, though, due to: A. Overproduction A. Overproduction B. World Competition B. World Competition

Farmer’s Grievances Blame others for their plight Blame others for their plight Railroads Railroads A. Charged higher rates for farm goods. A. Charged higher rates for farm goods. B. Higher rates for South & West B. Higher rates for South & West C. “Long haul v. short haul” C. “Long haul v. short haul” Eastern Bankers Eastern Bankers High interest rates High interest rates Foreclosures Foreclosures Middlemen Middlemen

Decline In Status American farmers had been mythologized since the founding of the country. American farmers had been mythologized since the founding of the country. Jefferson “Those that labor the earth are the chosen people of God…” Jefferson “Those that labor the earth are the chosen people of God…” By end of 19 th century, Eastern industrialists seem to dominate society while farmers situation is on the wane. By end of 19 th century, Eastern industrialists seem to dominate society while farmers situation is on the wane.