the western frontier

THE WESTERN FRONTIERAmerican Studies

PRACTICE QUESTION Consider the following changes that occurred

in the United States in the late 19th century: Overcrowding of cities Increases in immigration from Europe Opportunity for farming and mining in rural areas

These changes led to: A. rapid growth of urban areas B. acquisition of overseas territories C. elimination of large suburbs around many cities D. movement of people to the western frontier

MANIFEST DESTINY Our superior/dominant race is destined

to conquer the West and spread our culture Many thought it was God’s plan Our nationalistic/ethnocentric ideas http://www.mdianeharrison.com/5th%20Gr

ade%20Westward%20Expansion%20Manifest%20Destiny.htm

PROGRESSION OF WESTWARD EXPANSION

THE FINAL FRONTIER After the Civil War: The Great Plains: Flat grassy land

between the Missouri River and Rocky Mountains

The Great Basin: Dry desert lowland between the Rocky Mtns and the Sierra Nevada Mtns

THE PLAINS PEOPLE Native Americans see Plains as sacred

land that supports their way of life Millions of buffalo used for:

Meat for food Pelt for clothes Skin for shelter Bones for tools Manure for fuel/fertilizer

WHO WE CONQUERED

PRACTICE QUESTION In the 19th century, many Americans considered

Native Americans to be inferior to people of the European ancestry. This resulted in discrimination and conflict between European settlers and Native Americans. One consequence of this discrimination was that many Native Americans were:

A. removed from their former homeland B. prevented from trading with European settlers C. forced to maintain their cultural heritage D. persecuted for killing buffalo on the Great Plains

1850S: SETTLERS FROM THE EAST Three groups that settled the final

western frontier: Miners: Get rich quick off gold and silver Cattle Ranchers: Make money off raising

cows Homesteaders: Farming families

MINING FRONTIER California Gold Rush: 1849 Rocky Mountain Gold Rush: 1859 Silver in Nevada Copper in Montana Gold in Black Hills of the Dakotas

100s of remote mining towns pop up all over the west

CATTLE FRONTIER 1860/70s: Best way to make money in

Texas Hire cowboys to drive cattle to market

in the east Cattle can graze anywhere on open

range Load onto train in Kansas for

slaughterhouse in Chicago meatpacking industry

HOMESTEADERS The Homestead Act (1862): Govt

invites people to claim 160 acres of land just by settling on it

Farmers of wheat and corn mostly Many acres taken by spectators: buy

land only to sell it for a higher price later

FRONTIER PIONEERS Industrialization leads to new technology to

make farming easier Windmills to power pumps for underground water Combines, silos, grain elevators

US Govt needs frontier settled in order to form new states

Railroads need laborers to build, goods to ship, workers for the trains, and towns to go to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w__1GyfQPQ

THE WILD WEST: VIOLENT CONFLICT Ranchers vs. Farmers: Barbed Wire

Wars Barbed wire invented in 1874 to fence in

farmland Ranchers/Cowboys want open range for

grazing cows but farmers want their land protected

Cowboys cut wires; get in gun fights with farmers

OUTLAWS VS. VIGILANTES Outlaws: Criminals/con artists who

steal others gold or livestock to get rich quick

Small towns have little govt: Citizens carry guns and take the law into their own hands

Vigilantes: Self-appointed police force Results in shoot-outs and death without

trial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DU

0mdThjg4

HAZARDS AND HARDSHIPS OF FRONTIER LIFE

Drought, disease, far from stores and neighbors, hard physical labor

Few trees: First homes made of sod/dirt Women: Never-ending chores, make

everything by hand, have 10+ children Women civilize mining/cow towns:

Schools, libraries, doctors, theaters

TREATMENT OF NATIVE AMERICANS Removal from homeland since 1830s US breaks many treaties with Natives Wars between Natives and Pioneers

Sioux victory at Little Bighorn US Army revenge at Wounded Knee: massacre

of Native American men, women, and children Natives lose and surrender because:

They fight as tribes not united nation They were outnumbered; lost many to disease They had primitive weapons

PRACTICE QUESTION During the 19th century, white settlers moved west

searching for a new life. However, they moved into lands that were already claimed by the Native Americans. After many broken treaties and battles the Native Americans were forced to move to:

A. cities such as New York and Boston B. reservations which were lands settlers did not want C. mining towns of the west D. other countries like Mexico and Canada

NATIVE AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS Reservation: Designated undesirable land set

aside for Native Americans Often barren, Natives don’t farm they hunt

Dawes Act: Offers 160 acre plots on reservation Natives don’t believe in private land

1924: Granted full citizenship 1960s-Present: Red Power

Gain more control over laws and land with more aid and compensation