The West TransformedThe West Transformed
Chapter 17Chapter 17
Mining and RailroadsMining and Railroads
–Boom and bust–Boom and bust
Before the Civil War,prospectors foundgold in Nevada, whichwas owned by HenryComstock.Before the Civil War,prospectors foundgold in Nevada, whichwas owned by HenryComstock.
The Comstock Lodewas filled with silver,and made moremoney in silver thengold. About $300Million in 20 years.The Comstock Lodewas filled with silver,and made moremoney in silver thengold. About $300Million in 20 years.
After the Civil War,prospectors movedwest, they found oresin Montana, Idaho,Colorado and SouthDakota.After the Civil War,prospectors movedwest, they found oresin Montana, Idaho,Colorado and SouthDakota.
Mining and RailroadsMining and Railroads
Cities of tents grewaround these oremines, and were calledBoomtowns. Merchantsfollowed prospectors.
–Women openedrestaurants, washedclothes, took inborders.
About ½ of the minerswere foreign
To keep justice in thesetowns there wereVigilantes
Once the ore wasextracted, the minersoften moved away andthe towns died.
Mining and RailroadsMining and Railroads
–The Railroad Boom–The Railroad Boom
Before 1860,railroads ended atthe Mississippi River.Before 1860,railroads ended atthe Mississippi River.
–The governmentgave subsidies topeople.–The governmentgave subsidies topeople.
Mining and RailroadsMining and Railroads
TranscontinentalRailroad
–One railway wenteast fromSacramento, CAcalled the CentralPacific Railroad
–Another was builtwest from Omaha,Nebraska called theUnion PacificRailroad.
–They met in themiddle
Mining and RailroadsMining and Railroads
Towns sprang up in thewest because of therailroad.Towns sprang up in thewest because of therailroad.
–Gold and silver cameout of the mines.–Gold and silver cameout of the mines.
–The TranscontinentalRailroad–The TranscontinentalRailroad
Finding gold and silverore in the land out tothe west was whateventually inspired thisrailroad which spannedthe continent.Finding gold and silverore in the land out tothe west was whateventually inspired thisrailroad which spannedthe continent.
Native Americans struggle tosurviveNative Americans struggle tosurvive
–People of the Plains–People of the Plains
In 1865, about 360,000Native Americans livedin the Great PlainsIn 1865, about 360,000Native Americans livedin the Great Plains
Plains people lived bygathering, hunting andfishing.Plains people lived bygathering, hunting andfishing.
When the NativeAmericans traded withthe French and Britishfor guns, they couldtravel faster and farther.When the NativeAmericans traded withthe French and Britishfor guns, they couldtravel faster and farther.
Native Americanscarried their belongingsin Travois and lived inTepeesNative Americanscarried their belongingsin Travois and lived inTepees
Native Americans struggle tosurviveNative Americans struggle tosurvive
Plains people flowedthe buffalo herds,which played a keyrole in the NativeAmericans survival.
Women managed thevillage, cared forchildren, made food.
Men were huntersand warriors andoften led religiouslife.
Native Americans struggle tosurviveNative Americans struggle tosurvive
–Broken Treaties–Broken Treaties
U.S. treaties promisedNative Americans land,when miners andrailroad crews wentwest, these treatieswere broken.U.S. treaties promisedNative Americans land,when miners andrailroad crews wentwest, these treatieswere broken.
Fort Laramie Treaty-USofficials wanted NativeAmericans to stopfollowing buffalo,promising if they settleddown, and thegovernment wouldprotect their land.Fort Laramie Treaty-USofficials wanted NativeAmericans to stopfollowing buffalo,promising if they settleddown, and thegovernment wouldprotect their land.
–When this was signed,Settlers moved ontotheir land.–When this was signed,Settlers moved ontotheir land.
Native Americans struggle tosurviveNative Americans struggle tosurvive
Sand Creek Massacre-As a response by theNative Americans togive up their lands, theyattacked supply trainsand homes.
–The response to thiswas that about 700people attacked theCheyenne tribe. Theyraised a white flag but100 people from thetribe were killedanyway.
–This massacre ignitedwar.
Native Americans struggle tosurviveNative Americans struggle tosurvive
The giant herds ofbuffalo began to dieout because ofrailroad hunters andthe price of buffalorobes.
–Last stand forCuster and theSioux
Often times land onthe reservation wasbad and hard to farmon.
Native Americans struggle tosurviveNative Americans struggle tosurvive
The Sioux andCheyenne lived on areservation in the BlackHills. The Sioux andCheyenne lived on areservation in the BlackHills.
–In 1874 there was agold rush and a floodof miners–In 1874 there was agold rush and a floodof miners
Sitting Bull andCrazy Horse ledattacks to keepout whitesSitting Bull andCrazy Horse ledattacks to keepout whites
Little Bighorn- A battlebetween ColonelGeorge Custer and theSioux and Cheyenne toforce the NativeAmericans onto areservation Little Bighorn- A battlebetween ColonelGeorge Custer and theSioux and Cheyenne toforce the NativeAmericans onto areservation
–Custer and all of hismen died in this battle–Custer and all of hismen died in this battle
Native Americans Struggle tosurviveNative Americans Struggle tosurvive
–Other efforts ofresistance–Other efforts ofresistance
When the NezPerces were beingforced onto areservation, theirChief, Chief Josephfled toward Canadawith his people. TheUS Army pursuedthem, until theircapture nearCanada’s border.When the NezPerces were beingforced onto areservation, theirChief, Chief Josephfled toward Canadawith his people. TheUS Army pursuedthem, until theircapture nearCanada’s border.
Native Americans Struggle tosurviveNative Americans Struggle tosurvive
Navajo Indians raidedsettler’s farms forlivestock, to stop this,the army was called in.Eventually the Navajowere defeated.
–The “Long Walk” wasmade by the Navajos,which was forced.Many died of diseaseand hunger.
Native Americans Struggle tosurviveNative Americans Struggle tosurvive
The Ghost DanceThe Ghost Dance
–The failure of reform–The failure of reform
A Century of Dishonorby Helen Hunt Jackson.A Century of Dishonorby Helen Hunt Jackson.
–A book that recordedthe many treaties thatwere violated by thegovernment.–A book that recordedthe many treaties thatwere violated by thegovernment.
The Dawes Act The Dawes Act
–Tried to end NativeAmerican wanderingand turn them intofarmers.–Tried to end NativeAmerican wanderingand turn them intofarmers.
–Gave males 160 acreseach to farm.–Gave males 160 acreseach to farm.
–They set up schools–They set up schools
–This act failed.–This act failed.
The Cattle KingdomThe Cattle Kingdom
–Rise of the CattleIndustry
For years wild cattlewanted the OpenRange
When American settlersmoved to the west, theydid not round up thestray herds.
–When the railroadscame, Texans couldnow take the cattle tomarkets
In spring there wereCattle Drives- Thesedrives lasted months tomove the cattle north.
The Cattle KingdomThe Cattle Kingdom
–Life on the Trail–Life on the Trail
Cowhands-had to keepthe cattle in check.Cowhands-had to keepthe cattle in check.
–Herding cattle wasrisky; they wouldstampede and couldget taken away by ariver.–Herding cattle wasrisky; they wouldstampede and couldget taken away by ariver.
–Cowhands worked 18hours a day and gotpaid less than $1.–Cowhands worked 18hours a day and gotpaid less than $1.
People learned how tobe cowhands becauseof the Vaquero People learned how tobe cowhands becauseof the Vaquero
–Americans learned toride, rope and brand.–Americans learned toride, rope and brand.
The Cattle KingdomThe Cattle Kingdom
–The Wild West–The Wild West
After months on thetrail, cowboys wouldbe ready for a bath, agood meal and a softbed. This is why Cowtowns were formed.Cow townsAfter months on thetrail, cowboys wouldbe ready for a bath, agood meal and a softbed. This is why Cowtowns were formed.Cow towns
These towns soonbecame popular; theyhad dance halls,saloons, hotels andrestaurants.These towns soonbecame popular; theyhad dance halls,saloons, hotels andrestaurants.
The Cattle KingdomThe Cattle Kingdom
There were manymyths in the west.Although there wasminimal violence,people tried toadvertise for the westby saying there was.
–Annie Oakley evenbroke a stereotypeand could shoot agun as good as aman.
The Cattle KingdomThe Cattle Kingdom
–Boom and bust of theCattle Kingdom–Boom and bust of theCattle Kingdom
The cattle boom lastedfrom the 1860’s to the1880’sThe cattle boom lastedfrom the 1860’s to the1880’s
Cattle Kingdom-Theregion dominated bythe cattle industry andits ranches, trails, andcow towns.Cattle Kingdom-Theregion dominated bythe cattle industry andits ranches, trails, andcow towns.
The boom ended whena cycle of scorchingsummers and frigidwinters killed millions ofcattle.The boom ended whena cycle of scorchingsummers and frigidwinters killed millions ofcattle.
Farming in the WestFarming in the West
–Homesteading
Homesteaders-People were given160 acres for free ifthey lived and farmedon it for 5 years.
–Only 1 in 3 peoplelasted the full 5years
Railroads gave awaysome of the 180million acres it gotfrom the government
Farming in the WestFarming in the West
–A hard life on theplains–A hard life on theplains
The land that peoplewere given was hardto farm. It was fertilebut covered with SodThe land that peoplewere given was hardto farm. It was fertilebut covered with Sod
Farmers brokethrough the sod withnew plows made ofsteel by John Deere.Farmers brokethrough the sod withnew plows made ofsteel by John Deere.
–Sodbusters usedmachines to plantcrops–Sodbusters usedmachines to plantcrops
–Farmers usedwindmills to pumpwater out.–Farmers usedwindmills to pumpwater out.
Farming in the WestFarming in the West
Whole families workedon farms.
–Men worked fromdusk until dawn
–Children tendedanimals and helpedwith chores
–Women kept thehouse, planted andharvested, educatedthe children, madeclothes, preservedfood and madebasics like candlesand soap.
Farming in the WestFarming in the West
–A last rush for land–A last rush for land
The Oklahoma LandRush-people rushedonto land nearOklahoma City toclaim it for free.The Oklahoma LandRush-people rushedonto land nearOklahoma City toclaim it for free.
–Sooners came outand claimed thebest land–Sooners came outand claimed thebest land
Farming in the WestFarming in the West
–Farmers organize
Farm crisis
–There was a surplus offood because toomany farmers weretaking grain to themarket.
Supply vs.Demand
In many communitiesthere were Granges.The Farmers Alliancewas organized in thelate 1870’s,
–It set up FarmCooperatives
Farming in the WestFarming in the West
Populists (the politicalparty) wanted to usesilver as well as gold asa basis for moneysupply. They believedthat there would beInflation Populists (the politicalparty) wanted to usesilver as well as gold asa basis for moneysupply. They believedthat there would beInflation
In 1896, DemocratWilliam Jennings Bryanran against RepublicanWilliam McKinley.In 1896, DemocratWilliam Jennings Bryanran against RepublicanWilliam McKinley.
–Bryan was known asthe “Great Commoner”and wanted to usesilver as currency–Bryan was known asthe “Great Commoner”and wanted to usesilver as currency
–McKinley won with hisgold alone standard.–McKinley won with hisgold alone standard.
