1. Miners, Ranchers, & Cowhands
Growth in the West
Chapter 19, Section 1

2. Essential Questions:
Is the success or failure of a country related to that country’s geography? Will certain countries always be successful? Will certain countries always be cursed?
How did the geography of the West promote economic opportunities for settlers? Why did people move out West?
What is the geography of the Great Plains Region of the U.S.?
What are the dangers of vigilante justice?

3. The Frontier (1860)

5. The Great Plains:
Area of the United States from Missouri River/Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains
Settler Were NOT Attracted to the Great Plains
Rolling Plains, Dry Plateaus, Deserts

11. Impact of the Railroads:
Railroads Brought Natural Resources (Minerals, Timber, Crops, Cattle) from the West to Eastern Factories & Markets
Trains Brought Miners, Ranchers & Farmers Out West

12. Railroads’ Impact on Native Americans?

14. Silver & Gold Rush: Colorado & Nevada
Over 100,000 Miners Rushed Out to Pikes Peak, CO in Search of Gold
Miners Rushed Out to Comstock Lode, NV in Search of Silver & Gold

15. Boomtowns
A Town that has a Sudden Burst of Economic or Population Growth
San Francisco, Denver, (Gold Rush)
Was Valhalla a Boomtown?

16. More Gold Strikes! 1874 – Gold Strike in Black Hills, SD
1891 – Gold Strike at Cripple Creek, CO
1896 – Gold Strike in Yukon Territory (Canada)
Hopeful Miners Came From All Over the World:
Europe
South America
Mexico
China

17. Early Miners: Panning & Sluicing
Most Miners Never Found Gold & Went Broke!
Early Miners Panned & Sluiced:
Very Ineffective!
Most Miners Sold their Land to Large, Rich, Mining Companies!

21. Large Mining Companies
Large Mining Companies Bought Miners Lands:
REAL CHEAP Because they Went BROKE!
Companies Had the $$$ to Buy Drilling Equipment!
Used Water Cannons, Dynamite, Drilled Underground Shafts (Tunnels to Drill in the Mountains)

23. Mining: A Tough Life Companies Owned the Mines – NOT the Workers!
Miners Had a Tough Life(Still Do Today)
Poor Pay
Deadly Cave Ins
Breath in Dust
Lung Problems

26. New States From Mining:
3 States Were Added to the Union:
Nevada
Colorado
South Dakota

27. Rise of the Cattle Industry
Extension of Railroad Lines into the Frontier Helped Bring Cattle to the East
Beef was VERY Expensive in the East! Why?

28. The “Man with the Plan!”
Joseph McCoy was an Illinois Livestock Dealer – Lived Outside Chicago
Realized Railroads Could Bring Beef to the East (MORE $$$)
Just Had to Get Cattle from Texas to a Town with a Railroad
Hired Cowhands & Vaqueros for the Long Drives

29. Joseph McCoy & The Long Drives
Joseph McCoy Started the Long Drives:
Bought Cattle in Texas, Let them Feed on the Frontier (No Cost)
Hired Cowhands & Vaqueros to Take them North to Abilene, KA
Cattle was Sold for 10x More, Processed, Put on Trains, & Brought to the East
Beef/Leather/Belts/ Shoes/Jackets/Etc…

30. YouTube Long Drives

31. Vaqueros (Cowboys) Vaqueros Were the 1st Ever Cowboys/ Cowhands
They Taught American Cowboys How to Rope & Ride Cattle
Brought Cattle North on the Long Drives
1 Out of 3 Vaqueros Were Either Mexican or African Americans (Former Slaves)

32. The Wild, Wild West In Your Own Words?
On the Frontier & In Developing Towns, NO Government! No Police Officers
A lot of Drinking/ Gambling/ Stealing
Billy the Kid

35. Vigilantes For Protection, Citizens Formed Vigilantes
Took the Law into Their Own Hands!
Usually Hangings or Shootings on the Spot!
What’s Wrong with this?

36. Reasons Why the Cattle Industry Collapsed
Too Much BEEF!
Prices Dropped from $30 to $7
Barbed Wire!
Settlers Fenced in Their Lands (Cattle Had Nothing to Eat & Can’t Get to the Railroad Towns)
Bad Winter on the Plains ( )
Thousands of Cattle Died – Ranchers Went Out of Business

37. Essential Questions:
Is the success or failure of a country related to that country’s geography? Will certain countries always be successful? Will certain countries always be cursed?
How did the geography of the West promote economic opportunities for settlers? Why did people move out West?
What is the geography of the Great Plains Region of the U.S.?
What are the dangers of vigilante justice?