1. Industrialization, Westward Expansion, Immigration, and Urbanization
2-2: Homesteaders, Cowboys, Indians, and the Populists

2. Homesteaders on the Plains
What were the factors that led to people settling the Great Plains (area stretching from northern Texas to North Dakota)?
Wanted out of crowded cities back East
Had nothing left after Civil War
Wanted a chance to build their own lives/start over
The Homestead Act:
Law passed during the Civil War, gave acres of land to a person, for a small fee (10$). “Homesteaders” had to “improve” (build a house) the land and stay on it for 5 years to get full ownership.
The transcontinental railroad being built
As it was built, small towns on the plains sprung up next to it

3. Cowboys and Miners Many people went west to mine for gold, silver
Others took up working as cowboys (the American concept of a cowboy was borrowed from the Mexicans), driving herds of cattle from the open range--large expanses of pasture land where beef cattle could graze
Driving cattle on the cattle trails to the railroad was profitable, for a time, until the open range was fenced in by barbed wire

4. Wars with Native Americans
The last 20 years of the 19th century was filled with conflict between the U.S. government, and the tribes of the Plains Indians (Sioux, Cheyenne, Comanche)
Conflicts
Sand Creek Massacre: U.S. attack Cheyenne natives waving a white flag, mow down over 100 people, mostly women and children
Battle of Little Bighorn: Indian leaders annihilate General George Custer, and 267 other men from his cavalry regiment. It’s the last victory by natives over the U.S.
Wounded Knee: 200 Sioux men, women, and children are mowed down by Gatling guns, after there is a misunderstanding when they are turning in their weapons

6. The Dawes Act and Assimilation
The U.S. government makes attempts to get Native Americans to assimilate (adopt the lifestyle of whites)
They passed the Dawes Act which awarded 160 acres of land to individual natives who would settle down and farm the private property
It was meant to discourage the life of communal living on reservations—land set aside by the government where the tribes could live
Ultimately most natives did not take advantage of the Dawes Act, because they didn’t want to abandon their way of life

7. The Populists
The Populists were a third political party made up primarily of farmers, and built their platform on voicing farmer’s concerns
They started the Grange Movement, which was a national association of farmer’s organizations
Many farmers had been affected negatively by big businesses
Banks (were predatory lenders on farmers, re-possessed homes when farmers couldn’t make payments)
Railroads and Grain elevators (overcharged farmers to ship and store grain)
The Populists also sought to cut down on corruption in politics
They wanted:
Direct election of Senators
Free coinage of silver (would raise crop prices), known as bimetallism

8. Populist campaigns
1892: Populists run James Weaver as a third party candidate, he doesn’t win, but gets more than a million votes
1896: Populists ally with Democrats and support William Jennings Bryan, who loses because he is drastically outspent by the pro- business campaign of William McKinley
After this, the Populists die out as a party, but some of their ideas do eventually live on

9. Comprehension Questions
Describe the campaigns of the Populists in 1892 and 1896, and explain why they lost their campaign in 1896.
Describe 2 conflicts between Native Americans and the U.S. government. Be detailed about what happened in each event