2. 506-510 - Analyze Primary Source Documents. - Describe the mining…… 506-510 - Analyze Primary Source Documents. - Describe the mining…… 506-510 - Analyze Primary Source Documents. - Describe the chief characteristics of the 506-510 - Analyze Primary Source Documents. - Describe the chief characteristics of the western mining frontier. western mining frontier.

3. Directions: Directions: What conclusions can we draw about these western mining operations and towns of the nineteenth century? What conclusions can we draw about these western mining operations and towns of the nineteenth century? Study each original photograph carefully and note: Study each original photograph carefully and note: What is shown and what is not shown. What is shown and what is not shown. Pay special attention to the details in each Pay special attention to the details in each photograph. photograph. Consider what actions are shown. Consider what actions are shown.

4. 1. Gold Mining

5. 2. Gold mining

6. 3. Miners

7. 4. Mining town

8. 5.

9. 6.

10. 7.

11. Directions: Directions: What conclusions can we draw about these western mining operations and towns of the nineteenth century? What conclusions can we draw about these western mining operations and towns of the nineteenth century? Study each original photograph carefully and note: Study each original photograph carefully and note: What is shown and what is not shown. What is shown and what is not shown. Pay special attention to the details in each Pay special attention to the details in each photograph. photograph. Consider what actions are shown. Consider what actions are shown. Discuss the conclusions: Discuss the conclusions:

12. 2. Gold mining

13. 3. Miners

14. 4. Mining town

15. 5.

16. 6.

17. 7.

18. The Mining Frontier Major gold and silver “rushes” drew prospectors westward (acted as a pull factor ): 1859 Rocky Mountains near Denver and the Comstock Lode near Virginia City, Nevada drew over 100k miners. 1860s strikes in Boise, Idaho and Helena, Montana drew even more prospectors.

19. The Mining Frontier Major “rushes” drew prospectors westward 1 1859 Rocky Mountains near Denver and the Comstock Lode near Virginia City, Nevada drew over 100k miners. 860s strikes in Boise, Idaho and Helena, Montana drew even more prospectors. Characteristics of mining towns: I Isolated due to geography and distance. T Temporary structures, very transient population, yet they did contribute to permanent settlement of surrounding areas. Population was overwhelmingly male with few women. 1860 mining camps of Virginia City and Gold Hill, Nevada only 30 women resided out of a total population of 2,300. Women also had limited economic opportunities as hotel owners, seamstresses, cooks or prostitutes.

20. The Mining Frontier Characteristics of mining towns: Characteristics of mining towns: Population was overwhelmingly male with few women. Population was overwhelmingly male with few women. 1860 mining camps of Virginia City and Gold Hill, Nevada 1860 mining camps of Virginia City and Gold Hill, Nevada only 30 women resided out of a total population of 2,300. only 30 women resided out of a total population of 2,300. Women also had limited economic opportunities as hotel Women also had limited economic opportunities as hotel owners, seamstresses, cooks or prostitutes. owners, seamstresses, cooks or prostitutes. Saloons were the most common business establishment and Saloons were the most common business establishment and predominant social centers. predominant social centers. 1879 Leadville, Colorado had four churches but 120 saloons. 1879 Leadville, Colorado had four churches but 120 saloons. Mark Twain describes Virginia City in his book Roughing Mark Twain describes Virginia City in his book Roughing It (1872). It (1872).

21. In his book, (really a memoir), Mark Twain describes his experiences traveling west. …”The cheapest & easiest way to be an influential man and be looked up to by the community at large, was to stand behind a bar, wear as cluster-diamond pin, and sell whiskey”. During his journey he: meets bandits, Pony Express riders, meets bandits, Pony Express riders, Indians and Mormons; Indians and Mormons; tries his hand and fails at dozenstries his hand and fails at dozens of occupations; of occupations; becomes editor of a newspaper,becomes editor of a newspaper, is nearly drowned, crushed, andis nearly drowned, crushed, and frozen to death; frozen to death; throws himself into mining and eventhrows himself into mining and even becomes a millionaire, though only for becomes a millionaire, though only for two weeks two weeks

23. The Mining Frontier Characteristics of mining towns: Characteristics of mining towns: Saloons were the most common business establishment and Saloons were the most common business establishment and predominant social centers. predominant social centers. 1879 Leadville, Colorado had four churches but 120 saloons. 1879 Leadville, Colorado had four churches but 120 saloons. Mark Twain describes Virginia City in his book Roughing Mark Twain describes Virginia City in his book Roughing It (1872). It (1872). Towns had the potential for personal and criminal violence, Towns had the potential for personal and criminal violence, however, was not as common as legend would have it. however, was not as common as legend would have it. Between 1877-1883 Bodie, California experienced 29 killings, Between 1877-1883 Bodie, California experienced 29 killings, but usually only occurred within small groups of young men. but usually only occurred within small groups of young men. Daily life for most people was safe. Daily life for most people was safe. Racism also sparked violence over economic competition Racism also sparked violence over economic competition In 1885 in Rock Springs, Wyoming white miners killed 28 In 1885 in Rock Springs, Wyoming white miners killed 28 Chinese miners and drove away the other 700 residents! Chinese miners and drove away the other 700 residents! Characteristics

24. Changes in Mining in the West: Technological Advances : Placer (pan) mining by prospectors was replaced with:Placer (pan) mining by prospectors was replaced with: –Hydraulic Mining (used high pressure water cannon) –Hard Rock Mining (Lode or Quartz Mining involved digging shafts into the ground with timber bracing to prevent cave-ins) –Pumps were necessary to remove underground water. Effects: Corporate control of mining by Eastern and British capital ($) replaced the individual prospector due to increased expense.Corporate control of mining by Eastern and British capital ($) replaced the individual prospector due to increased expense. Damaged environment.Damaged environment.

25. Changes in Mining in the West: Effects: Corporate control of mining by Eastern and British capital ($) replaced the individual prospector due to increased expense.Corporate control of mining by Eastern and British capital ($) replaced the individual prospector due to increased expense. Damaged environment.Damaged environment. Transformed miners into wage earners (deskilled).Transformed miners into wage earners (deskilled). Mining corporations did little to protect health and safety of miners.Mining corporations did little to protect health and safety of miners.safety –Cave-ins, explosions, poisonous gas and fires in the mines killed or injured many. –Hoisting mechanisms used to raise and lower men into the mines oftentimes malfunctioned maiming and dismembering miners.

26. Changes in Mining in the West: Effects: Miners organized unionsMiners organized unions –Established to assist injured miners, act as social and educational centers (libraries) and acted to safeguard miners jobs and working conditions. –The Western Federation of Miners strike in 1892 at Coeur d’Alene district in Idaho. Owners of the mine locked out miners, brought in a private “army” and asked the governor and President Cleveland to send in troops to end the strike!Owners of the mine locked out miners, brought in a private “army” and asked the governor and President Cleveland to send in troops to end the strike! –Unions often responded with violence when companies tried to blacklist union members, use the lock-out, court injunctions and soldiers to force miners back to work. –So, most attempts at unionization met with little success.

27. Virginia City, Nevada ca. 1870 ca. 1870

28. Virginia City, Nevada – (c.1920) Long after it’s zenith in the 1880s

29. Mining town – (Virginia City, c. 1880)