The West and the New South

1. The West and the New South Chapter 26

2. 1. What groups were responsible for settling the west?

3. Miners • Cattlemen/Cowboys • Farmers

4. 2. What states were settled largely because of mining?

5. Colorado • Gold found near Pike’s Peak in 1859

6. Nevada • Comstock Lode (gold) near Virginia City, Nevada

7. Idaho • Montana • Copper in Butte, Montana

8. 3. How did mining work?

9. First: panning for gold • Second: investors and corporations started deep shaft mining

12. 4. What impact did mining have on the west and the u.s.a?

13. Creation of new towns • Saloons, dance halls, theatres, railroads, etc. • Often became ghost towns after gold and silver ran out • Some stayed in San Francisco, Denver, and Sacramento

15. Attracted Immigrants • About 1/3 were Chinese in 1860s • Typically about 50% of a town was foreign born • Created resentment: Chinese Exclusion Act (first law to restrict immigration on basis of race and nationality)

18. Created monetary crisis • Increase in silver supply creates inflation

19. Caused severe environmental damage • Berkeley Pitt (Butte, Montana)

20. 5. From whom did american cowboys and cattleman learn the techniques of the cattle business?

21. Mexican cowboys called vaqueros • Texas Longhorns originally came from Mexico • After Civil War, 5 million longhorns roamed freely on Texas plains • Cattle business started easily • Cattle and land was free • Called “open range” ranching

22. 6. How did the railroads impact the cattle industry?

23. They opened up eastern markets for Texas cattle • Cowboys drove cattle up Chisholm and Goodnight Loving Trails to “cow towns” of Abilene and Dodge City (RR junctions in Kansas) • RR took cattle to Kansas City and Chicago to be slaughtered • Meat then shipped east

25. 7. What brought an end to “open range” ranching?

26. By 1884-1885, range was overstocked with beef, which drove prices down (less incentive to raise cattle) • Overgrazing destroyed the grass on the plains • Blizzard and drought of 1884-86 killed 90% of cattle • Many cowboys opted for settling on ranches

27. Arrival of homesteaders (farmers) • Put up barbed wire fences, cut off access to open range

28. 8. What motivated people to become homesteaders on the great plains?

29. Homestead Act of 1862 • 160 acres of public land free to any family that settled on it for five years • 1870-1900: 500,000 families got free land

30. 9. Did all the homesteaders get free land? • NO • Actually, 2.5 million families had to buy their land because… • RR companies and speculators (profit seekers) often bought best land up and then sold it for profit to homesteaders

31. 10. Why were 2/3 of the homesteaders unsuccessful?

32. Extreme Weather • Lack of Resources • Water • Trees • Built homes of sod, so first settlers called “sodbusters’ • Joseph Glidden’s barbed wire provided fencing • grasshoppers

34. 11. What was the significance of the oklahoma “land rush” of 1889?

35. It was the last piece of territory to be taken from the Native Americans (since the early 19th century, it had been designated as “Indian territory”) • With the arrival of the “Sooners” in the land rush of 1889, the US Census Bureau officially declared the “frontier” closed

36. 12. What did frederickjackson turner write in 1893 as a reaction to the closing of the frontier?

37. His “frontier thesis” which argued… • The frontier had played a fundamental role in shaping the unique character of American society because… • It promoted independence and individualism • It acted as a “social leveler” by breaking down class distinctions and thus promoting democracy • It caused Americans to be practical and inventive • It caused Americans to be wasteful toward natural resources

38. Frederick Jackson Turner

39. 13. Why did the closing of the frontier worry turner?

40. Because it meant there was no longer a “safety valve” in the US for those people who felt unhappy about their social/economic conditions • Result: there might be European style class divisions and social conflicts

41. 14. What were the major native american groups in 1865?

42. 2/3rds lived on the Great Plains • Nomadic • Skilled horsemen • Life centered on hunting buffalo • Included Sioux, Cheyenne, Comanche

43. 1/3rd lived in Far West • Settled • Pueblo, Navajo, Apache, Chinook, Nez Perce

44. 15. What was the reservation policy and when did it start?

45. Started with Andrew Jackson in the 1830s • Land west of Mississippi River would be permanent “Indian country” • By 1850, Manifest Destiny killed this concept

46. 1851: US starts creating large “reservations” for Indians • Indians usually ignored

47. 16. Why did the various indian wars take place between the Us government and the indians?

48. Because the newly arriving white settlers and the Indians were competing for land • Many tribes ignored orders to get on reservations • Many whites ignored orders to stay off reservations (especially if a mineral was discovered)

49. 17. What were the major indian wars?

50. First Sioux War (1866) • Second Sioux War (1875-1876) • George Custer is massacred at Little Big Horn