1. Chapter 13 The West Transformed p. 448-473
Miners & railroad builders lead the settlement of the West. Native Americans struggle to maintain their way of life. Western farmers face many challenges.

2. Chapter 13, Section 1 Mining & Railroads p. 452-457
Miners and railroad builders help bring new settlers to the West and link it to the rest of the nation.

3. 13.1 section focus question:
How did mining and railroads draw people to the West?

4. All Eyes on the West
With the Civil War over, attention turns to the western frontier.
Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean
Settlers crossing the Great Plains call it “The Great American Desert”
Why?

5. Comstock Miner seeking his fortune in silver
Boom & Bust
Main Idea: Settlement of the West often comes in a rush, but many boomtowns soon die out.
Gold & silver discoveries bring miners West
Comstock Lode: one of the richest silver mines ever
Boomtowns - tent cities spring up around mines
Merchants provide goods & services for miners
Women also come West to start their own businesses like hotels, restaurants, and stores.
Gold discovered in South Dakota’s Black Hills (Deadwood)
Comstock Miner seeking his fortune in silver
Calamity Jane

6. Chinese & European miners
Miners & the Law
Almost half of the miners were foreign-born (Italian, German, Spanish, Chinese…)
Many face discrimination & violence, especially Chinese
Frontier Justice: vigilantes
self-appointed law keepers
Boomtown grows, residents ask government for sheriffs, marshals, & judges
Mine shuts down Why? - miners leave - boomtown becomes ghost town
*play “Boomtown to Ghostown” video
Chinese & European miners

7. Transcontinental Railroad: Who signed the bill to build in 1862?
The Railroad Boom
Main Idea: Backed by federal aid, railroad companies lay tracks from coast to coast by 1869.
Federal government grants subsidies to railroads to help with construction costs
grants of land or money
1 mi. track = 10 sq. mi. land
Leland Stanford builds rail lines east from San Francisco (drives the “Golden Spike”)
Central Pacific & Union Pacific RR Companies (see p )
Transcontinental railroad links east coast to west coast
a railroad line that spanned the continent
Stanford drives the Golden Spike!
Transcontinental Railroad:
East meets West,
May 10, 1869, Promontory, Utah
Who signed the bill to build in 1862?

8. Table Question:
Why was building the RR so important to our government?
Government subsidies

9. Effects of the Railroad
Railroad brings 1000s of immigrant workers
Central Pacific hires 10,000 Chinese manual labors
Railroad brings new settlers to the Western territories.
8 new states: Nevada, Colorado, North & South Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming all become states by 1890.
Chinese railroad workers working in the snow of the Sierra Nevada Mountains

10. 13.1 section focus question:
How did mining and railroads draw people to the West?
People moved west seeking opportunities like jobs and a chance to get rich.