Settling the WestSettling the West

In the decades following the Civil War In the decades following the Civil War millions of people poured into the trans millions of people poured into the trans Mississippi West. Mississippi West.

They were lured by the promise of better They were lured by the promise of better life, cheap land, riches or just simply for life, cheap land, riches or just simply for better life. They settled the Great Plains, better life. They settled the Great Plains, and the Southwest.and the Southwest.

The Great Plains and the The Great Plains and the Far WestFar West

Who settled the West?Who settled the West?

White Americans from the EastWhite Americans from the East African Americans trying to African Americans trying to

escape prosecution escape prosecution (exodusters )(exodusters )

Immigrants from foreign Immigrants from foreign countries.countries.

Exodusters moving to Exodusters moving to KansasKansas

Exodusters Exodusters

Reasons for the Reasons for the settlementsettlement

Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad – Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad – 1869.1869.

Governmental incentives such as the Governmental incentives such as the Homestead Act ( 1862 ), which provided 160 Homestead Act ( 1862 ), which provided 160 acres of land for free to anyone who would stay acres of land for free to anyone who would stay on it for 5 years. Morril Act and Pacific Act also on it for 5 years. Morril Act and Pacific Act also helped.helped.

Possibility making money raising cattle Possibility making money raising cattle ( longdrives ).( longdrives ).

Completion of the Completion of the Transcontinental Railroad – Transcontinental Railroad – Promontory Point UtahPromontory Point Utah

The emergence The emergence of three frontiersof three frontiersThe three frontiers that The three frontiers that

developed weredeveloped were::

The farming frontierThe farming frontierThe mining frontierThe mining frontierThe cattle frontierThe cattle frontier

The farming frontierThe farming frontier

Homesteaders who took advantage of Homesteaders who took advantage of the Homestead Act quickly settled the the Homestead Act quickly settled the Great Plains but life on the Great Plains Great Plains but life on the Great Plains was harsh.was harsh.

1. There was little wood available for 1. There was little wood available for use. Farmers had to find new ways to use. Farmers had to find new ways to build houses and to keep warm. build houses and to keep warm.

Typical sod houseTypical sod house

Other problemsOther problems1.1. Raging fires – farmers plowed firebreaksRaging fires – farmers plowed firebreaks2.2. Everyone in the family had to workEveryone in the family had to work3.3. Insects like grasshoppers would devour the Insects like grasshoppers would devour the

cropscrops4.4. Little rain – farmers had to learn new Little rain – farmers had to learn new

methods of farming such as dry farming. methods of farming such as dry farming. Wheat was the favored crop. Also, the US Wheat was the favored crop. Also, the US Department of Agriculture was created in Department of Agriculture was created in 1862 to help farmers adapt to the new 1862 to help farmers adapt to the new environment.environment.

5.5. Farms were isolated and so many farmers Farms were isolated and so many farmers suffered from isolation and depression.suffered from isolation and depression.

Bonanza FarmsBonanza Farms

Efficient new farm machinery and cheap, Efficient new farm machinery and cheap, abundant land enabled some companies abundant land enabled some companies to create a new kind of large scale to create a new kind of large scale operation, the bonanza farm. Most were operation, the bonanza farm. Most were owned by large companies and operated owned by large companies and operated like factories, with machinery, like factories, with machinery, professional managers and specialized professional managers and specialized laborers for different tasks. laborers for different tasks.

Bonanza FarmBonanza Farm

Ranching in the WestRanching in the West The growth of eastern cities ensured demand for The growth of eastern cities ensured demand for

beef. beef. As the buffalo was exterminated during the As the buffalo was exterminated during the

construction of the Transcontinental Railroad construction of the Transcontinental Railroad there was more land available for raising cattle.there was more land available for raising cattle.

The Spanish also introduced sheep ranching. The Spanish also introduced sheep ranching. Cowboys despised sheep, which they believed Cowboys despised sheep, which they believed ate the roots of the grass and ruined it for cattle. ate the roots of the grass and ruined it for cattle.

Clashes between cowboys and shepherd Clashes between cowboys and shepherd sometimes became violent.sometimes became violent.

Cattle trailsCattle trails

Long DrivesLong Drives

To reach the railroads, cowboys herded To reach the railroads, cowboys herded as many as 3,000 cattle on long drives. as many as 3,000 cattle on long drives. These overland treks covered hundreds These overland treks covered hundreds of miles and lasted several months. The of miles and lasted several months. The trail usually ended in Kansas because trail usually ended in Kansas because the cattle in Missouri were not immune to the cattle in Missouri were not immune to Texas fever. Stampedes were a real Texas fever. Stampedes were a real problem.problem.

Who were the Cowboys?Who were the Cowboys?

Many of them were ex Confederate Many of them were ex Confederate soldiers, African Americans, and Mexican soldiers, African Americans, and Mexican Americans. Americans.

Cattle townsCattle towns

Every long drive ended at a railhead, a Every long drive ended at a railhead, a town located along a railroad, where town located along a railroad, where brokers bought cattle to ship east on brokers bought cattle to ship east on railroad cars. railroad cars.

The Kansas towns of Abilene, Dodge The Kansas towns of Abilene, Dodge City and Wichita were among the best City and Wichita were among the best known railhead stops. The Cowboys known railhead stops. The Cowboys were paid at the end of the drive. were paid at the end of the drive.

Cattle townsCattle towns

Open range Open range

The government allowed The government allowed cattle ranchers to use pubic cattle ranchers to use pubic land as open range, or free land as open range, or free grazing land. This access to grazing land. This access to free pastureland helped make free pastureland helped make cattle ranching profitable. cattle ranching profitable.

The end of the Cattle The end of the Cattle BoomBoom

The cattle boom lasted about 20 years. It The cattle boom lasted about 20 years. It ended because of several factors:ended because of several factors:

1. Prices of beef dropped due to 1. Prices of beef dropped due to oversupplyoversupply

2. Invention of barbed wire in 1874 2. Invention of barbed wire in 1874 meant that farmers started enclosing meant that farmers started enclosing their properties and open range ended. their properties and open range ended.

Invention of Barbed WireInvention of Barbed Wire

Joseph GliddenJoseph Glidden Cattle ranching Cattle ranching became more became more expensiveexpensive

The mining BoomThe mining Boom

Gold rush in California and Colorado Gold rush in California and Colorado meant that prospectors started pouring meant that prospectors started pouring into the area. into the area.

Mining town sprang up overnight Mining town sprang up overnight wherever news of possible wealth wherever news of possible wealth brought prospectors together. brought prospectors together.

Life in the mining camps was crude, and Life in the mining camps was crude, and comforts were few.comforts were few.

InstabilityInstability

Western mining camps were some of the most Western mining camps were some of the most violent places in the US during the late 1800s.violent places in the US during the late 1800s.

The absence of law enforcement sometimes The absence of law enforcement sometimes led people in mining camps to form vigilante led people in mining camps to form vigilante committees to combat theft and violence. committees to combat theft and violence.

Stability came to mining camps as they grew Stability came to mining camps as they grew into towns and families arrived.into towns and families arrived.

Mining towns in the Mining towns in the American WestAmerican West

How were Native American How were Native American affected by the settling of affected by the settling of the West?the West?

By 1850 most American Indians lived west of By 1850 most American Indians lived west of the Mississippi river. Some were nomadic the Mississippi river. Some were nomadic hunters and others established more hunters and others established more permanent villages. permanent villages.

The 1851 Treaty of fort Laramie had The 1851 Treaty of fort Laramie had guaranteed American Indian land rights on the guaranteed American Indian land rights on the Great Plains. Great Plains.

However, as non Indians moved west, the However, as non Indians moved west, the government tried to acquire additional Indian government tried to acquire additional Indian lands. lands.

Indian PolicyIndian Policy

In 1850 the Bureau of Indian Affairs was In 1850 the Bureau of Indian Affairs was created to manage American Indian created to manage American Indian issues.issues.

The government negotiated treaties The government negotiated treaties whereby the Indians who agreed to move whereby the Indians who agreed to move to reservations were promised money to reservations were promised money and supplies for 30 years. Those treaties and supplies for 30 years. Those treaties were often broken.were often broken.

The Plains IndiansThe Plains Indians

Many Plains Indians including Many Plains Indians including Arapaho, Cheyenne, Comanche Arapaho, Cheyenne, Comanche and Sioux refused to live on the and Sioux refused to live on the reservations. They were reservations. They were nomads and refused to settle nomads and refused to settle and become farmers. and become farmers.

Years of StruggleYears of Struggle

Sand Creek Massacre – 1867Sand Creek Massacre – 1867 - 200 mostly women and children of the - 200 mostly women and children of the

Cheyenne tribe were massacred by colonel Cheyenne tribe were massacred by colonel Chivington’s forces. Chivington’s forces.

- This led to increased pressure to put - This led to increased pressure to put Indians in reservations. Indians in reservations.

- Some Southern Plain Indians agreed to - Some Southern Plain Indians agreed to give up much of their land and move to a give up much of their land and move to a reservation in the Black Hills of South Dakota reservation in the Black Hills of South Dakota ( Second Treaty of Laramie 1867 )( Second Treaty of Laramie 1867 )

Reservation in the Black Reservation in the Black HillsHills

Years of StruggleYears of Struggle

Little Bighorn – 1874 Little Bighorn – 1874 - in 1874 the government violated the - in 1874 the government violated the

terms of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie terms of the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie by sending an army expedition into the by sending an army expedition into the Black Hills to search for gold. Gold was Black Hills to search for gold. Gold was discovered and the government treid to discovered and the government treid to negotiate a new treaty with the Sioux. negotiate a new treaty with the Sioux. The Sioux refused.The Sioux refused.

The Little BigHorn The Little BigHorn

Indians won the Indians won the battle. battle.

This battle is also This battle is also known as Custer’s known as Custer’s last stand because last stand because General George General George Armstrong Custer Armstrong Custer was killed in the was killed in the battle.battle.

Last victory for the Last victory for the IndiansIndians

Little Bighorn proved to be the last victory Little Bighorn proved to be the last victory for the Sioux. The shock of Custer’s for the Sioux. The shock of Custer’s defeat prompted the army to increase its defeat prompted the army to increase its efforts to move the American Indians to efforts to move the American Indians to reservations. Over the next several reservations. Over the next several months most of the Indians surrendered months most of the Indians surrendered and were placed in reservations.and were placed in reservations.

The Battle of the The Battle of the Wounded KneeWounded Knee

The final chapter of the Plains Indian – The final chapter of the Plains Indian – US Army wars took place on the Pine US Army wars took place on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

Many Indians joined a religious Many Indians joined a religious movement known as the Ghost Dance. movement known as the Ghost Dance. Some government officials feared that Some government officials feared that the “dance” would inspire rebellion.the “dance” would inspire rebellion.

The Ghost DanceThe Ghost Dance

The Ghost Dance The Ghost Dance dressdress

The Battle of the The Battle of the Wounded Knee - 1890Wounded Knee - 1890

They ordered the arrest of Sitting Bull. When They ordered the arrest of Sitting Bull. When reservation police surrounded Sitting Bull’s reservation police surrounded Sitting Bull’s cabin a skirmish broke out and 14 Indians cabin a skirmish broke out and 14 Indians including Sitting Bull were killed.including Sitting Bull were killed.

Many Sioux joined the Ghost Dancers farther Many Sioux joined the Ghost Dancers farther west. They were tracked down by the US army west. They were tracked down by the US army and a search for weapons began. The Sioux and a search for weapons began. The Sioux and soldiers began shooting. By the end of the and soldiers began shooting. By the end of the day, 150 Sioux and 30 US soldiers lay dead.day, 150 Sioux and 30 US soldiers lay dead.

The significance of the The significance of the Wounded KneeWounded Knee

The Wounded Knee The Wounded Knee massacre marked the end of massacre marked the end of the bloody conflict between the bloody conflict between soldiers and American soldiers and American Indians on the Great Plains. Indians on the Great Plains.

Assimilating American Assimilating American IndiansIndians

Many government officials and most reformers Many government officials and most reformers viewed assimilation or the cultural absorption viewed assimilation or the cultural absorption of American Indians into “white America” as the of American Indians into “white America” as the only long term way to ensure Indian survival. only long term way to ensure Indian survival.

In 1887 the government passed DAWES In 1887 the government passed DAWES GENERAL ALLOTMENT ACT, which broke up GENERAL ALLOTMENT ACT, which broke up reservation lands into individually owned reservation lands into individually owned pieces of land. The remainder of the land was pieces of land. The remainder of the land was sold to the settlers. sold to the settlers.

Assimilation of American Assimilation of American IndiansIndians

The Dawes Act proved to be a The Dawes Act proved to be a failure because many Indians failure because many Indians refused to become farmers. refused to become farmers. Sometimes, Indians were given Sometimes, Indians were given seeds unsuitable for farming. seeds unsuitable for farming. Many Indians died of Many Indians died of malnutrition.malnutrition.

Assimilation of American Assimilation of American IndiansIndians

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

1. The completion of the Transcontinental 1. The completion of the Transcontinental Railroad speeded up the settlement of Railroad speeded up the settlement of the West. the West.

The settlement of the west led to the The settlement of the west led to the extermination of the buffalo, which was a extermination of the buffalo, which was a major food source of the Plains Indians. major food source of the Plains Indians. This allowed the US government to place This allowed the US government to place Indians in reservations. Indians in reservations.

Key conceptsKey concepts

Differences in the concept of private Differences in the concept of private property. American Indians believed the property. American Indians believed the land belonged to everyone and therefore land belonged to everyone and therefore couldn’t be bought and sold. The settlers couldn’t be bought and sold. The settlers believed they could buy land. This is the believed they could buy land. This is the reason why more often than not, Indians reason why more often than not, Indians were cheated out of their land. were cheated out of their land.

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

The philosophy most Americans The philosophy most Americans accepted was that God intended them to accepted was that God intended them to own the continent from the east coast to own the continent from the east coast to the west coast. ( Manifest Destiny ). This the west coast. ( Manifest Destiny ). This in the minds of many justified the in the minds of many justified the injustices that were done to the American injustices that were done to the American Indians. Indians.

Indians did not get citizenship rights until Indians did not get citizenship rights until 1924.1924.

The Closing of the The Closing of the Western FrontierWestern Frontier

The Significance of The Significance of the Frontier in the Frontier in American Society – American Society – 18931893

By 1890, the By 1890, the Western Frontier had Western Frontier had been closed. been closed.