1. 1860-1890 Does the diminishing frontier close the mind?
Westward Expansion
Does the diminishing frontier close the mind?

2. With a partner… What is a frontier?
How does the presence of a frontier shape aspects of American culture and character?
[Think: western colonies, west of the Appalachins, west of the Mississippi…]

3. What are four advantages of Railroad expansion?
Terms you will know…
Trusts
Frontier Thesis
Homesteaders
“Exodusters”

5. Republican Vision Tariffs Public-private partnership
Railroads as first corporations
Economic Development rather than racial justice
National Banks
All of these elements to a national economy require resources from the west…

6. Mining Created Wealth in Many ways
From Greenback to “Gold-Backs”
Gold Standard removes $ from circulation
Mining
Silver-jewelry, household items
Gold-jewelry, backing for $
Copper- industry
Iron-steel
Lead-industry
Mining Legacy-western lawlessness

8. Homesteaders Railroad Trusts sell land Advertising Campaigns
Land speculators
Steamship lines
Western states
Western territories
New Developments
Barbed wire
plows

9. Farmers in the new Economy
Post-civil war drop in crop prices w/ increased global economy
Individuals vs. economies of scale
Subject to whims of nature

10. A Historian’s View Frederick Jackson Turner 1893 World Exposition
Betw Savagery & Civilization
Innovation
Progress
Advanced “Americanism”

11. Historians as critics Role of slavery and civil war
Influence of immigration
The west developed by communities not rugged individuals
The frontier was never free because of the Indians