1. Chapter 14: Looking to the West (1860 – 1900)

2. I. The American West in the Late 1800s
Main Points
Frederick Jackson Turner
“Safety Valve”
1890: Census Bureau: Frontier: “closed”

3. II. Native Americans & Westward Expansion
Introduction
Review: Indian Removal Act
Gold Rush… Transcontinental Railroad… “Great Plains”
End of the Buffalo…

4. II. Native Americans (cont)
Indian Wars
Reservations… “wards”
Differences over land ownership
Series of Indian Wars…Wounded Knee considered to be the end (Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee)
Helen Hunt Jackson

5. II. Native Americans (cont)
Opposition
NW: Chief Joseph & Nez Perce; Sioux Wars
* “Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight forever no more.” -- October 5, 1877
SW: Navajo & Apache

6. II. Native Americans (cont)
Changing Govt Policies
Dawes Act (1887): Americanize
Homestead Act (1862)
1924: Citizenship
1934: Indian Reorganization Act
1950s: Termination!
1960s: Militancy among Native American groups

7. III. The Economy of the West
Main Points:
Agricultural Revolution
Inventions: barbed wire; steel plow; mechanical reapers: inc. production
Economy: resources, ranching, farming

8. III. Western Economy (cont)
Pioneers of the West:
Miners: 49 Niners, Comstock Lode, “ghost towns”
Ranchers: Open ranges, Long drives
Farmers: Homestead Act, barbed wire, faced great difficulties

9. IV. The Farmer’s Revolt: Populism
Problems for the Farmers
1. Deflation & Overproduction (Inventions)
2. Big Businesses: Railroads and Banks
3. Daily Difficulties

10. IV. Populism (cont) The Farmers Organize
1. The Grange (1867) & Oliver Kelley
* “Granger Laws”
* Munn v. Illinois ( 1876)
* Wabash v. Illinois ( 1886) & ICC

11. IV. Populism (cont) Populist Party Definition
* Roots: Granger Era; peak w/ E of 1896
* Reforms: rejection of laissez-faire; a bigger govt to counter BB
* But people must have a bigger say in the govt
* “Grassroots” movement: ideas are adopted later by Progressives
* Example of Third Party

12. IV. Populism (cont) Populist Reforms
Silver Standard/ “free silver”/ money supply
Progressive/ graduated income tax… redistribute
Low interest loans to farmers
Govt ownership of RR, Telephones, telegraphs
8 hour work day
Secret Ballot
Direct Election of Senators
Initiative
Recall
Referendum 3.

13. IV. Populism (cont) The Election of 1896 1. Big Issue: Gold v. Silver
* Bryan (D) v. McKinley ®
“You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.”

14. IV. Populism (cont) Results
* McKinley won (later assassinated by L. Czolgasz)
* Economy improved; Populists disappeared
* Ideas: adopted by other political parties (typical for third parties)
* Transition: from agrarian to industrial, farms to cities, closing of the west, a nation of immigrants (pluralism)