1. Chapter 5 THE WESTERN CROSSROADS
The American Nation In the Modern Era
4/8/2017
Chapter 5 THE WESTERN CROSSROADS
Section 1: War in the West
Section 2: Western Farmers
Section 3: The Cattle Boom
Section 4: The Mining Boom
CHAPTER 5--THE WESTERN CROSSROADS

2. Objectives: Section 1: War in the West
Why did the U.S. government create the American Indian reservation system?
What were the sources of conflict between the Plains Indians and the U.S. government?
How did Chief Joseph, Geronimo, and Sarah Winnemucca respond to whites’ treatment of American Indians?
How did the U.S. government try to assimilate American Indians?

3. The reservation system
Section 1: War in the West
The reservation system
created to serve desire for farmland and gold
gave government control of American Indians
provided opportunity for assimilation of American Indians

4. The Plains Indians and the U.S. government
Section 1: War in the West
The Plains Indians and the U.S. government
conflicts over land and reservations
conflicts over broken promises and treaties
conflicts over the Ghost Dance

5. Chief Joseph’s response
Section 1: War in the West
Chief Joseph’s response
agreed to move tribe to a reservation
fled from the U.S. Army and eventually surrendered

6. Geronimo’s response Section 1: War in the West
fled reservation with his tribe; raided settlements
eventually surrendered

7. Sarah Winnemucca’s response
Section 1: War in the West
Sarah Winnemucca’s response
called attention to problems
made speeches; participated in political activities

8. Assimilation attempts
Section 1: War in the West
Assimilation attempts
establishment of reservations
creation of Indian schools
passage of the Dawes Act

9. Objectives: Section 2: Western Farmers
How did the U.S. government promote economic development in the West?
Why did people migrate west?
How did the environment influence farming practices and daily life in the West?
What difficulties did farm families face on the Great Plains?

10. Promotion of economic development
Section 2: Western Farmers
Promotion of economic development
Homestead Act permitted any citizen or intended citizen to have 160 acres of land.
Pacific Railway Act gave lands to railroad companies to develop the transcontinental railroad.
Morrill Act provided more than 17 million acres of land whose sale was to finance agricultural and engineering colleges.

11. Migration west Section 2: Western Farmers
White Americans sought cheaper lands or wanted to make a new start.
African Americans wanted to escape persecution in the South.
Scandinavians had “America Fever.”
Irish moved west after building railroads.
Russian Mennonites moved after Russian czar ended their exemption from military service.
Chinese came during Gold Rush and turned to farming.

12. Environmental influence
Section 2: Western Farmers
Environmental influence
Lack of water and strong winds led to dry farming and irrigation.
Lack of trees led to use of buffalo manure as fuel and building material.
Harsh winters led to use of new varieties of wheat that withstood the weather.

13. Difficulties for farm families
Section 2: Western Farmers
Difficulties for farm families
poor housing
blizzards and cold weather
droughts
insects
prairie fires
backbreaking work

14. Objectives: Section 3: The Cattle Boom
How did cattle and sheep ranching develop in the West?
What was life like for cowboys and residents of cattle towns?
What were ranches like?
Why did the cattle boom on the open range end?

15. Development of cattle ranching
Section 3: The Cattle Boom
Development of cattle ranching
introduction of the Texas longhorn
expansion of eastern beef market

16. Development of sheep ranching
Section 3: The Cattle Boom
Development of sheep ranching
introduced by Spanish
also done by American Indians
market expansion sparked by Gold Rush

17. Cowboy life Section 3: The Cattle Boom demanding working conditions
isolation
trail drives

18. Town life Section 3: The Cattle Boom
busy from spring to fall from cattle drives
businesses attracted by the money that cowboys received at end of drive
families followed businesses

19. Ranches Section 3: The Cattle Boom hard work for both genders lonely
centered around roundup

20. End of the cattle boom Section 3: The Cattle Boom cattle glut
invention of barbed wire
depletion of grass
bad weather

21. Objectives: Section 4: The Mining Boom
What role did mining play in bringing more people west?
How did the arrival of families change life in mining camps?
Why did large companies take over most mining operations, and how did this change the lives of miners?

22. Role of mining Section 4: The Mining Boom
Mining attracted people to the West by presenting the possibility of great wealth.

23. Arrival of families Section 4: The Mining Boom
Families brought stability and transformed temporary towns into permanent ones.
Families brought law and order.
Families established churches, newspapers, schools, and cultural establishments.

24. Takeover by large companies
Section 4: The Mining Boom
Takeover by large companies
It was expensive to mine the deep, less accessible deposits.
Technology rather than luck required to locate deposits.
Miners became laborers for corporations rather than self-employed individuals.
Working conditions in mines were dangerous.
Some miners formed unions to get better wages and working conditions.