Chapter 19Chapter 19Growth in the American Growth in the American

WestWest

The American WestThe American West

before and after the Civil Warbefore and after the Civil War

Find the West CoastFind the West Coast

Find the Rocky MountainsFind the Rocky Mountains

Find the Great PlainsFind the Great Plains

The West Coast The West Coast California, Oregon, and WashingtonCalifornia, Oregon, and Washington

The Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains Colorado, Montana, Arizona, and Colorado, Montana, Arizona, and

WyomingWyoming

The Great PlainsThe Great Plains

The Great PlainsThe Great Plains The Great Plains The Great Plains

is a large area in is a large area in the middle of the the middle of the United States.United States.

It is between the It is between the Mississippi River Mississippi River and the Rocky and the Rocky Mountains.Mountains.

It includes states It includes states such as such as Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Kansas, and Nebraska.Nebraska.

It is flat and dry, It is flat and dry, but grassy, but grassy, not a dessert.not a dessert.

There are no There are no trees, so the trees, so the wind is strong.wind is strong.

Winters are cold Winters are cold and summers and summers are hot.are hot.

Water is scarce.Water is scarce.Dust storms, Dust storms,

tornadoes, tornadoes, snowstorms, snowstorms, windstorms, windstorms, and grass fires and grass fires are common.are common.

Memory checkMemory check

Name three states on the West Coast.Name three states on the West Coast.

Name three Rocky Mountain states.Name three Rocky Mountain states.

Tell where the Great Plains are located.Tell where the Great Plains are located.

Name three states in the Great Plains.Name three states in the Great Plains.

Describe the climate of the Great Plains.Describe the climate of the Great Plains.

The American West Before the Civil The American West Before the Civil WarWar

The Indians were the original The Indians were the original inhabitants of the West.inhabitants of the West.

Next came the SpanishNext came the Spanish

Most of the West belonged to Most of the West belonged to Spain.Spain.

The land was not good for farming, but it The land was not good for farming, but it was good for raising cattle and horses. So, was good for raising cattle and horses. So, Spanish settlers raised cattle in the West. Spanish settlers raised cattle in the West. They were the first cowboys.They were the first cowboys.

The West became part of Mexico when it got The West became part of Mexico when it got independence from Spain. But, eventually the independence from Spain. But, eventually the U.S. took the West from Mexico.U.S. took the West from Mexico.

Many of the cowboys were Hispanic or Many of the cowboys were Hispanic or African American. They would raise the African American. They would raise the cattle and then herd them to a city to sell cattle and then herd them to a city to sell them.them.

They raised longhorn cattle, because they They raised longhorn cattle, because they could travel long distances and survive could travel long distances and survive

tough climates.tough climates.

They often had to take their cattle from Texas to They often had to take their cattle from Texas to Abilene, Kansas to catch a train. The train would Abilene, Kansas to catch a train. The train would take the cattle to Northern cities such as Chicago.take the cattle to Northern cities such as Chicago.

The work was difficult, dangerous, and lonely.The work was difficult, dangerous, and lonely.They had to travel a long distance with their They had to travel a long distance with their

cattle.cattle.

The Great Plains were called “the Open The Great Plains were called “the Open Range” because there were no fences and Range” because there were no fences and cattle could move freely.cattle could move freely.

Indians had always lived in the Great Indians had always lived in the Great Plains, but the Plains were mostly empty. Plains, but the Plains were mostly empty. Plains Indians lived by hunting buffalo. Plains Indians lived by hunting buffalo. They moved around following the buffalo They moved around following the buffalo herds.herds.

Native Americans from the Native Americans from the East were forced to move to East were forced to move to

the West.the West. When the United States When the United States

started expanding, the started expanding, the Indians east of the Indians east of the Mississippi were forced Mississippi were forced to move west of the to move west of the Mississippi. They were Mississippi. They were promised the land west promised the land west of the Mississippi. of the Mississippi. They lived in the Plains They lived in the Plains in places such as in places such as Oklahoma, and Kansas.Oklahoma, and Kansas.

Memory CheckMemory Check

Who were the first people to live in the Who were the first people to live in the Great Plains?Great Plains?

Who were the second people to come?Who were the second people to come?

What was the life of a cowboy like?What was the life of a cowboy like?

What promise did the U.S. government What promise did the U.S. government make to the Native Americans? make to the Native Americans?

Before the Civil War, many people started Before the Civil War, many people started moving west of the Mississippi to start their moving west of the Mississippi to start their

own farms.own farms.

Life was difficult for the Life was difficult for the settlers.settlers.

They were isolated. They had no They were isolated. They had no neighbors. There were no cities close by. neighbors. There were no cities close by. And, the cities in the West had few stores And, the cities in the West had few stores to buy supplies from. to buy supplies from.

Transportation was Transportation was slow and difficult. slow and difficult. There were no There were no trains or decent trains or decent roads. They had to roads. They had to walk or ride horses.walk or ride horses.

Farming was difficult. It was too dry and Farming was difficult. It was too dry and the thick grass made plowing difficult.the thick grass made plowing difficult.

There were also many dangers. Bad There were also many dangers. Bad weather could kill the settlers. It could weather could kill the settlers. It could destroy their crops and leave them destroy their crops and leave them without food. It could even destroy their without food. It could even destroy their homes and leave them to freeze. Also, homes and leave them to freeze. Also, Indians or bandits sometimes attacked Indians or bandits sometimes attacked settlers.settlers.

Memory CheckMemory Check

What problems did early settlers face What problems did early settlers face as they settled on the Great Plains?as they settled on the Great Plains?

Around 1865, new technology was Around 1865, new technology was helping farmers to be more successful in helping farmers to be more successful in

the Great Plains.the Great Plains.

The new steel plows worked better than The new steel plows worked better than the iron plows. Steel was stronger than the iron plows. Steel was stronger than iron. Iron plows would break on the tough iron. Iron plows would break on the tough grass roots.grass roots.

Windmills could Windmills could pump water from pump water from deep deep underground.underground.

Cyrus McCormick invented the reaper---a Cyrus McCormick invented the reaper---a machine that could harvest large fields of machine that could harvest large fields of wheat or corn.wheat or corn.

Farmers in the Great Plains began to Farmers in the Great Plains began to grow very large crops of wheat and corn. grow very large crops of wheat and corn. More people wanted to move west to More people wanted to move west to start their own farms and be successful.start their own farms and be successful.

Memory CheckMemory Check

What made it possible for the settlers What made it possible for the settlers to succeed in the Great Plains?to succeed in the Great Plains?

While some settlers were starting farms in While some settlers were starting farms in the Great Plains, other settlers were moving the Great Plains, other settlers were moving

to the West in search of gold and silver.to the West in search of gold and silver.

The Gold RushThe Gold Rush

1849 was the year of the California Gold 1849 was the year of the California Gold Rush. Many people moved to California to Rush. Many people moved to California to search for gold and become rich. They search for gold and become rich. They came from all over the world. Other gold came from all over the world. Other gold and silver rushes followed in places like and silver rushes followed in places like Nevada.Nevada.

Mining TownsMining Towns

Mining towns Mining towns developed near developed near the mines.the mines.

Miners lived in Miners lived in the towns. They the towns. They had stores, had stores, hotels, saloons, hotels, saloons, and more.and more.

Memory CheckMemory Check

What were the two main reasons why What were the two main reasons why people moved to the West?people moved to the West?

Settlers in the West created problems for Settlers in the West created problems for the Indians. By 1850, the U.S. government the Indians. By 1850, the U.S. government was letting White settlers move into the was letting White settlers move into the Indian Territories and take their land. The Indian Territories and take their land. The White settlers and the Indians started White settlers and the Indians started fighting.fighting.

Memory CheckMemory Check

Why did Indians and settlers fight?Why did Indians and settlers fight?

Congress wanted people to settle in Congress wanted people to settle in the Great Plains, so they passed the the Great Plains, so they passed the Homestead Act of 1862. This law Homestead Act of 1862. This law gave each settler 160 acres of free gave each settler 160 acres of free land if he could stay and farm it for land if he could stay and farm it for five years. About two million people five years. About two million people moved to the Great Plains to get moved to the Great Plains to get their land.their land.

In 1860, the United States started In 1860, the United States started building the Transcontinental building the Transcontinental Railroad. The transcontinental Railroad. The transcontinental railroad was a railroad that went all railroad was a railroad that went all the way across the U.S.A. from East the way across the U.S.A. from East coast to West coastcoast to West coast

Many people worked building Many people worked building the transcontinental railroad.the transcontinental railroad.

The work was very The work was very dangerous. dangerous. Workers had to Workers had to dig tunnels, dig tunnels, build bridges build bridges across fast across fast rivers and deep rivers and deep canyons, and canyons, and work in cold work in cold weather.weather.

Many people died Many people died building the building the railroad. Most railroad. Most were immigrants were immigrants from China, from China, Ireland, and Ireland, and Europe. Some Europe. Some were African were African Americans.Americans.

The Transcontinental Railroad The Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869.was completed in 1869.

Before the Before the railroad, it railroad, it took six took six months to months to cross America cross America by covered by covered wagon. After wagon. After the railroad, the railroad, it took only it took only one week.one week.

By 1870, the farmers in the Great Plains By 1870, the farmers in the Great Plains were fighting with the cowboys. The were fighting with the cowboys. The farmers didn’t want the cowboys to herd farmers didn’t want the cowboys to herd their cattle over their land because it their cattle over their land because it destroyed their crops. The farmers destroyed their crops. The farmers wanted to build fences, but the cowboys wanted to build fences, but the cowboys wanted to keep the open range.wanted to keep the open range.

In 1873, the invention of barbed wire In 1873, the invention of barbed wire changed the Great Plains.changed the Great Plains.

It was a cheap It was a cheap way to make way to make fences that fences that would keep would keep cattle off of cattle off of farms. People farms. People built barbed built barbed wire fences wire fences everywhere everywhere and the open and the open range ended.range ended.

““The Cattle Kingdom”The Cattle Kingdom”

Eventually the cowboys were replaced Eventually the cowboys were replaced with large scale ranchers. These with large scale ranchers. These ranchers owned giant ranches and used ranchers owned giant ranches and used the newly built railroads to take their the newly built railroads to take their cattle to the cities instead of paying cattle to the cities instead of paying cowboys to herd the cattle for them. cowboys to herd the cattle for them. These ranchers were so rich and These ranchers were so rich and powerful that they were called the powerful that they were called the “cattle kingdom”.“cattle kingdom”.

Memory CheckMemory Check

What brought more settlers to the What brought more settlers to the West after the Civil War?West after the Civil War?

Where did the people who built the Where did the people who built the Transcontinental Railroad come from?Transcontinental Railroad come from?

What invention finally ended the What invention finally ended the Open Range?Open Range?

In 1868, the U.S. In 1868, the U.S. government had given government had given the Sioux Indians a the Sioux Indians a large amount of land in large amount of land in South Dakota. But, South Dakota. But, when gold was when gold was discovered there in discovered there in 1874, the U.S. Army 1874, the U.S. Army wanted to move the wanted to move the Sioux Indians out and Sioux Indians out and take that land.take that land.

Indian leaders Sitting Indian leaders Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse Bull and Crazy Horse refused to move and refused to move and decided to fight back.decided to fight back.

The U.S. Army sent General Custer, a The U.S. Army sent General Custer, a General famous for fighting against the General famous for fighting against the

Indians.Indians.

In 1874, the Sioux defeated General Custer In 1874, the Sioux defeated General Custer in the Battle of Little Bighorn. Custer and in the Battle of Little Bighorn. Custer and all of his soldiers were surrounded and all of his soldiers were surrounded and killed.killed.

More U.S. Army troops came and More U.S. Army troops came and eventually Sitting Bull and Crazy eventually Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse had to surrender. Crazy Horse Horse had to surrender. Crazy Horse was later killed while in jail.was later killed while in jail.

Indians were forced to live on Indians were forced to live on reservations.reservations.

The reservations were land for the The reservations were land for the Indians to stay on, but it was land the Indians to stay on, but it was land the White people didn’t want. They had no White people didn’t want. They had no water. Farming, ranching, or hunting water. Farming, ranching, or hunting were nearly impossible. Many starved were nearly impossible. Many starved to death or froze. The U.S. government to death or froze. The U.S. government encouraged people to kill all the buffalo encouraged people to kill all the buffalo so the Indians would not have any food so the Indians would not have any food and would have to move to the and would have to move to the reservations.reservations.

The Dawes ActThe Dawes Act

Some people felt sorry for the Native Some people felt sorry for the Native Americans. They wanted to help Americans. They wanted to help them, so they made a law called the them, so they made a law called the Dawes Act. The purpose of the Dawes Act. The purpose of the Dawes Act was to force Native Dawes Act was to force Native Americans to become like Europeans. Americans to become like Europeans. They were taught how to farm, wear They were taught how to farm, wear European clothes, and speak English.European clothes, and speak English.

Indian children were taken away from their Indian children were taken away from their parents and put in special schools. They parents and put in special schools. They were taught English. They were taught were taught English. They were taught that Indian culture was bad. The Dawes that Indian culture was bad. The Dawes Act destroyed Indian culture.Act destroyed Indian culture.

The Ghost Dance MovementThe Ghost Dance MovementIn 1890, Sioux In 1890, Sioux

Indians at the Indians at the Wounded Knee Wounded Knee Reservation in Reservation in South Dakota South Dakota started doing started doing “Ghost Dances.”“Ghost Dances.”

They believed that They believed that these dances these dances would bring up would bring up ghosts to push ghosts to push back the White back the White man.man.

Massacre at Wounded KneeMassacre at Wounded Knee The U.S. Army The U.S. Army

wanted to stop wanted to stop the Ghost Dance.the Ghost Dance.

They killed over They killed over 300 men, women, 300 men, women, and children.and children.

The Wounded The Wounded Knee Massacre Knee Massacre virtually ended virtually ended the Indian the Indian resistance.resistance.

Memory CheckMemory CheckWhy did Crazy Horse decide to fight the U.S. Why did Crazy Horse decide to fight the U.S.

Army?Army?

What happened at Little Bighorn?What happened at Little Bighorn?

What is a reservation?What is a reservation?

How did the Dawes Act destroy Indian culture?How did the Dawes Act destroy Indian culture?

What is reservation land usually like?What is reservation land usually like?

What happened at Wounded Knee?What happened at Wounded Knee?

The Great Plains becomes The Great Plains becomes “America’s Breadbasket”“America’s Breadbasket”

By 1890, the Great Plains were producing By 1890, the Great Plains were producing large amounts of wheat and corn.large amounts of wheat and corn.

The land was divided into fenced-off farms.The land was divided into fenced-off farms.

The Indians had been moved onto the The Indians had been moved onto the reservations or killed.reservations or killed.

Railroads connected the American west to Railroads connected the American west to the rest of the country.the rest of the country.