Expanding West

WARM-UP REVIEW Why did YOU move? Why do you think people moved West after the Civil War? What are the positive/negative effects of moving West?

Why did Westward Expansion occur? Opportunities to own land -Homestead Act Government gave 160 acres of FREE land! Had to stay for five years. very few became successful

Why did Westward Expansion occur? Advances in technology – the new Transcontinental Railroad

Why did Westward Expansion occur? Possibility of wealth created by the discovery of gold and silver Discovered by Henry Comstock in 1859 and sold to large mining corporations for just $11,000, the Comstock Lode was the largest vein of ore discovered in the West and eventually produced close to $300 Million in gold and silver. Virginia City, Nevada was established on the site by miners – who rarely became rich themselves – and businessmen to serve their needs – who often did get rich!

Why did Westward Expansion occur? A new beginning for former slaves

Why did Westward Expansion occur? Advertisements DO NOT WRITE Railroads used advertisements like this one in order to encourage Americans to settle on the Great Plains. Some companies created advertisements in foreign languages to recruit more settlers and offered to build schools and churches for their clients. The Railroad Companies realized that as soon as the settlers moved West, they had a new supply of customers – to purchase passenger tickets and to pay shipping costs. Every farmer had crops which needed to be sent to market.

Why did Westward Expansion occur? Adventure!

UFs&feature=related April 22, an estimated 50,000 people lined up for their piece of the available two million acres!

The Great Plains “Great American Desert” Fierce winds & dust storms Tall prairie grasses Low rainfall Flat – no tress Before 1860, those who crossed the Mississippi River generally traveled all the way to the west coast. Few settled in the Great Plains. Before 1860, those who crossed the Mississippi River generally traveled all the way to the west coast. Few settled in the Great Plains.

New Inventions & Adaptations Made farming on the Plains more successful

New Inventions & Adaptations Railroads: Railroads: Linked the Atlantic and Pacific Coast

New Inventions & Adaptations Beef Cattle Raising: ranchers would “drive” their cattle north to the railroad – where they would head to the coasts for... Dinner!

New Inventions & Adaptations Barbed Wire: Allowed farmers to keep cattle from their crops

New Inventions & Adaptations Wheat Farming: – Required less water and grew well in dryer soil

New Inventions & Adaptations Steel Plow – Helped farmers break up tough soil

New Inventions & Adaptations Dry Farming – Plant seeds 10 inches in the ground - there is more moisture for it to grow. The idea was brought here by the Swedish

New Inventions & Adaptations Sod Houses – Settlers built homes from sod - packed dirt held together by roots and cut into squares. They had to do this because there was no trees or other resources on the Plains

New Inventions & Adaptations Windmills – Pump water from the ground to the surface – Provide power