History of the West

1. History of the West Unit 3 Americans in the Great Plains

2. Louisiana Purchase • U.S. fearful of French control of New Orleans • Jefferson used diplomacy with threat of war • Setup Lewis and Clark to determine military installments in Louisiana Area • Napoleon ends up selling Louisiana for $15 Million (1803) • Needed cash for war against Britain • Could not defend it well without Santo-Dominque or Florida

3. Lewis and Clark Expedition

4. Purpose • Actually illegal • Flora and Fauna • Reconnaissance of Spanish troops/forts • Gauging the potential for the fur trade • “King-Making” • Stop intertribal warfare • Overall potential of the area

5. During Lewis and Clark Trip • Word got out about the abundance of fur bearing animals • Prior to Lewis and Clark’s return • Individuals sought to capitalize on the fur trade potential • Manuel Lisa • A Spaniard with experience in the fur trade • Set out in 1808 and built Fort Manuel in present-day Montana • First fort by U.S. company • Little success due to opposition of the Blackfeet • Too loyal to Canadian companies

6. Fort Manuel

7. Arikara War • 1823 the Arikara killed about a dozen trappers along the Missouri River • Part of the blockade to prevent the Dakota from getting from arms • A month later the U.S. army organized individuals under Colonel Henry Leavenworth to retaliate • 230 soldiers, 750 Dakotas, and 50 trappers • They defeated the Arikara • 1830’s smallpox almost wiped the Arikara completely out

8. Permanent Indian Frontier • In 1824 Secretary of War John C. Calhoun creates this new idea • Selected “transitional” lands in order to help displaced eastern Indians • Wanted them to continue farming • Reduce the financial burden for the federal government

9. Permanent Indian Reservation

10. Colonel Henry Dodge • Expeditions in 1832 and 1833 • Failed to contact and pacify the southern plains Indians after William Bucknell laid out the Santa Fe Trail in early 1820’s • Tried to reduce Indian raids against trading traffic along the route • Dodge’s third attempt in 1834 also failed to accomplish much • Thirty Cherokee, Delaware, Osage, and Seneca volunteers served as guides and hunters

11. Colonel Henry Dodge (Con’t) • All departed Fort Gibson and made contact with the Comanche and Wichita but accomplish very little • A fever broke out among Dodge’s men • Many died and the Indians were not impressed • The Santa Fe Trail remained a dangerous trading through the rest of its history

12. Boone Family • Nathaniel Boone was born in Kentucky in 1781 • Youngest son of legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone • Much of his early career centered around being a surveyor, trapper, hunter and soldier • In 1805 opened a salt-making business in Boonville • Used road for traveling and supplies called the Boone’s Lick Road • A Major thoroughfare in early Missouri • Later sold that business for a career in surveying and helped set up many of Missouri’s first Roads • Part of first Constitutional Convention in Missouri in 1820

13. Boone Family (Con’t) • Most famous as a captain in the War of 1812 for the Missouri Rangers • 1833 made captain of the Dragoons, a military regiment from Oklahoma • Played role in surveying land for Creek and Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma • Also looked for salt deposits to exploit throughout the western territories • By 1834, his sons had begun acquiring land in current location of Ash Grove, Missouri • Nathaniel and his wife Olive moved from their Mansion in Defiance Missouri to new cabin near present-day Ash Grove in 1837

14. Boone Family (Con’t) • House built originally as a double pen log cabin • Built primarily using Ash and Walnut logs • Moved there in order to be closer to the frontier he had so frequently surveyed • Later died in 1856 in the same home • Would be gone for months on hunting, fighting, or business trips • Olive left to care for farm and family

16. Santa Fe Trail • Trail existed from 1821-1880 • Eventually replaced by the railroad system • Part of the “Big Three” trails that were important to westward travel • Oregon and Chisholm the other two • Carried goods and promoted trade between the Spanish provinces • Eventually with the independent Mexican government and U.S. territories • Pre- 1821 explorers and mountain men traded with the Spanish provincial capital illegally • Followed along Indian and game trails

17. Santa Fe Trail (Con’t) • In 1821 Mexico gained independence from the Spanish • There the trade barriers were removed • William Becknell and four other men set out from Franklin Missouri to Santa Fe to trade • Trip roughly 1,203 miles and took roughly 8 weeks • Its first 20 years the trail averaged 80 wagons and 150 people per year • Carried a great deal of U.S. troops during the Mexican-American war in 1846 • Once under U.S. control, military forts were setup along its route to protect travelers and control Indian conflicts • The Civil War also increased the number of military operations along the trail

18. Santa Fe Trail (Con’t) • By late 1860’s, more than 5,000 wagons traveled the trail each year • Most of the goods traded included burros, furs, gold, horses and silver • Two parts to the trail • Northern trail slower but less dangerous • Takes them to Bent’s Fort • Southern trail much quicker but much more dangerous • Deal with water scarce and more hostile Indians • Tried to extend the “Old Spanish Trail” to Los Angeles but was defeated due to the Railroad in 1880

19. Santa Fe Trail

21. Santa Fe (Con’t) • Circle the Wagons • Used to defend against Indian raiding • Indians would use bow and arrows and the wagons provided protection

22. Rendezvous System • Indian hostility made it too dangerous to trap in the Northern Rockies using the outpost system • Primarily because of the Blackfeet • In 1823 William Ashley moved operations southward and placed an ad in St. Louis newspaper • Offered good money for trapping • Called Rocky Mountain Fur Co.

23. Rendezvous System (Con’t) • Trappers moved up river or stream • Leave traps for animals and reverse back down the river • Collecting traps as they return • Often these “Mountain Men” live with Indians • Sometimes married women and picked up a great deal of Indian lifestyle • Each summer Ashley came to a mountain valley with goods and money • All Mountain men involved and had a big party • Called a Rendezvous

24. Rendezvous System

25. Oregon Trail • Best land route for travel to the Western United States • Between 1841-1866 nearly 250,000 to 650,000 people made the trip • The longest of the overland routes used in the westward expansion of the United States • Individuals began taking the trail in 1841 • First large group included 900 immigrants in 1843 • Most people began their journey in Independence, Missouri near the Missouri River • The journey was a severe test of strength and endurance

26. Oregon Trail (Con’t) • Distance • Trip took nearly six months and followed a winding 2,000 mile trail • Often crossed flooded rivers • Attacked by Indians • Nearly 10,000 overlanders died between 1835-1855 • Only 4% were due to Indian attacks • Most deaths were due to Cholera, Small pox and Firearm accidents • During the summer months the trail was crowded with wagon trains, army units, missionaries, hunting parties, traders and sightseeing tours

27. Oregon Trail (Con’t) • From St. Louis, emigrants would set out towards a town near Kansas City in Mid-March • Pivotal to maintain enough resources to survive the trip • Included food, clothing and even more importantly wagon parts • Could Cost up to $250-500 ($5,000-10,000 Today’s Cost) • Sometimes carried to much food and clothing which bogged down the wagon • Due to the overcrowded wagon most had to walk • Many were barefooted • If something from the wagon broke, very difficult to fix and move forward • Most often used Mule or oxen and rarely horses

28. Oregon Trail

29. Ferry on the Trail • Many bridges were built to help overlanders to cross dangerous rivers • Fee for crossing over the bridge • Bridge Fees could net the operator nearly $65,000/ years in present-day costs • Indian tribes also were known for issuing fees to cross their land • Created much animosity among the travelers

30. Mormon Pioneer Trail • Established the territory of Utah in 1846 • Between 1846-1869 nearly 70,000 Mormons traveled westward to Salt Lake City, Utah • Purpose was to maintain religious and cultural identity • Started in Nauvoo, Illinois • Had already been kicked out of Missouri years prior • Led by leader Brigham Young • Succeeded founder Joseph Smith who had recently died in Illinois • Predominantly followed their own trail, and only briefly used the Oregon Trail • Left in Companies similar to military marches

32. Trail Overview

33. Concentration • Due to greater number of American’s immigrating across the Great Plains conflict with Indians increased • In response the Federal Government sought to “protect” the Indians through Concentration

34. Treaty making on the High Plains • Treaties established to police the high plains and stop Indian attacks on the “Overlanders” • First Treaty of Fort Laramie (1851 for Northern Plains) • Treaty of Fort Atkinson (1853 for Southern Plains) • Americans demanded protection from the Indians • Most bands refused to participate in the treaties • While claiming authority, minority bands signed the treaties

35. Treaty making on the High Plains (Con’t) • Provisions • Indians were to stay within lands defined by specific boundaries • Due to the difficult of military to identify those Indians involved in raiding of overlanders • The government acknowledged Indians rights to the designated lands • Yet U.S. could set up military post along the different trails • Both sides agreed to pay for any damages caused by their citizens • Each Indian nation was to receive $50,000 ($1.4 Million today) and annuities for 50 years • Ended up only receiving 15 years of annuities due to Senate ability to change treaties without Indian knowledge or consent

36. Negotiating at Fort Laramie

37. Lakota land under the first Treaty of Fort Laramie

38. Reduction of Land

39. Mormon Cow Incident • Brevit 2nd Lt. John Grattan at Fort Laramie eager to teach the Lakota a lesson • August 18, 1854 a Mormon cow wandered into a Brule camp under Conquering Bear • Along the Platte River • Visiting Minniconjous High Forehead killed the cow • Conquering Bear wouldn’t give up High Forehead • Grattan orders to fire canon which kills the head but no one else • Under the Treaty of Fort Laramie the attack happened within Conquering Bear’s authority • Indians kill all 30 troops

40. Manypenny Treaties • Government eager to open up Kansas and Nebraska for development • Especially for the Railroad • As Commissioner of Indian Affairs, he setup negotiations with various Indian groups • Between 1853-1857 they negotiated nearly 52 treaties with mostly village agriculturalist Indians • Indians lose over 15 million acres through treaties

41. Brewing Conflict • 1854 and 1855 Dakotas raided along the Oregon Trail • Including a stage coach with $10,000 • Secretary of War Jefferson Davis sent William Harney into the field in order to enforce the treaty • The government then called in the “friendlies” then went after the rest • Indians who supported the treaties and tended to live near the military forts • Harney struggled due to inability to adjust to the guerilla warfare of the plains

42. William Harney

43. Brewing Conflict (Con’t) • Battle of Antelope Hills • Not all Comanche recognized the treaty of Fort Atkinson • Nor the distinction between Texas and U.S. and continued to raid into Texas • Daniel Twiggs and troops sent out to enforce the treaty • Texas sends Rangers under the Command of Captain “John Rip” Ford • On May 1858, Rangers with Tonkawa and Anadarko Indians found a Comanche encampment • 4 whites and 76 Comanche killed, 18 prisoners and 300 horses captured

44. General Daniel Twiggs

45. John “Rip” Ford

46. Brewing Conflict (Con’t) • Battle of Rush Springs • Comanche hit Choctaw, Chickasaw and Wichita Indians • Some Comanche leaders knew of pending retaliation so they went to Fort Arbuckle • Tried to convince military not to react • Troops under Major Earl Van Dorn in 1858 sent out to enforce the treaty • 6 Whites and 56 Comanche killed • More Raiding in response to military attack

47. Warfare Becomes More Brutal • Primarily due to Civil War and its “Total War” approach • Local militias replaced federal troops throughout Great Plains • More likely to hate Indians than men from the east

48. Eastern Sioux Uprising • Indians hungry due to annuities not being delivered • Part of treaties that Congress changed or cut • Young Indians failed to find small game on over-hunted reservations • A few stopped at a farm and ask for food • When denied, they killed several whites and took food • They returned to their reservation and told what happened

49. Eastern Sioux Uprising (Con’t) • Many frustrated with leader Little Crow • Had accepted the reservation treaty • Called on him to declare war against the militias • Little Crow reluctantly went along with those calling for war • Local militia eventually put an end to a bloody war • Over 300 Indians were sentenced to be hung • Lincoln intervened and lowered the number to 38 • Those defeated but not killed fled to live with other Dakotas • Little Crow survived but later killed by farmer for reward

50. Bounty on Little Crow