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Life in the West

Life in the West. 3 million native Americans lived in the West before Europeans arrived they were diverse in language and culture West had natural wealth in timber, gold, silver, and other resources West changed the nation’s economy and politics Created a folklore of “rugged individuals”.

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Life in the West

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  1. Life in the West • 3 million native Americans lived in the West before Europeans arrived • they were diverse in language and culture • West had natural wealth in timber, gold, silver, and other resources • West changed the nation’s economy and politics • Created a folklore of “rugged individuals” Sioux Cheyenne

  2. The Explorers Purpose of the Lewis and Clark Expedition: • Find the “Northwest Passage” • Make friendly contact with the native Indian groups • Find out just what had been bought with the Louisiana Purchase

  3. Up the Missouri River • Expedition started in May, 1804 from St. Louis, Missouri • Led by Lewis and Clark • Accompanied by a Shoshone woman, Sacagawea

  4. Lewis and Clark

  5. To the Pacific and Back • Progress of expedition was slowed by rapids and waterfalls • To cross the Rocky Mts. they needed horses. • Traded with the Shoshone • Friendly Nez Perce in the Pacific Northwest helped them Shoshone Nez Perce

  6. The Explorers’ Legacy John C Fremont • Expedition returned in September 1806: Had not found a Northwest Passage Did map a route to the Pacific Established good relations with the Indians Brought back information about the West and its peoples • Zebulon Pike explored the valley of the Arkansas River, the Spanish territory along the Rio Grande and Red River • John C. Fremont mapped between the Mississippi river and the Pacific Ocean Zebulon Pike Pike’s Peak

  7. The Californios The California Missions • Junipero Serra started the missions in 1769 • Goal was to convert Indians to Christianity • Missions stretched from San Diego to San Francisco • Missions were deadly to Indians • Indians treated harshly and died from diseases • Mexican government closed the the missions in 1833 • Gave the land to soldiers and settlers

  8. San Juan Capistrano

  9. Life on the Ranchos • Californios produced almost everything they needed • In 1830’s cattle ranching became California’s most important industry • Cattle provided hides and tallow that were traded vaquero

  10. Californios’ Legacy • Place names such as San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco • Crops such as grapes, olives, and citrus fruits • Opened California to the world

  11. The Mountain Men • Lewis and Clark expedition stirred new interest in the fur trade • In 1807, 42 trappers went up the Missouri River • For 30 years trappers crisscrossed the West in search of furs

  12. The Trapper’s Life • Lived hard and died young • In spring and fall, set their traps • In summer, they met at rendezvous to swap furs for supplies • Trappers were attacked by fur thieves, Indians, wolves, and bears

  13. Mountain Men

  14. Freedom and Adventure • Trappers braved the lifestyle for freedom and adventure • In 1830’s, fur trade was in decline • Many trappers became explorers, army scouts, and traders

  15. Hatchet Jack

  16. Skin a Grizz

  17. Mountain Men’s Legacy • Mountain men explored most of the West • Routes they pioneered became the Oregon and California Trails • Trading posts became supply stations for the pioneers • Personal journals gave readers an insight into their lives California Trail Oregon Trail

  18. Possibles bag

  19. Rendezvous

  20. MISSIONARIES • Nez Perce asked people to come and teach about the “Black Book” • Marcus and Narcissa Whiteman went • Henry and Eliza Spalding also went • Crossed using the Oregon Trail Oregon Trail Nez Perce

  21. A Difficult Start Spaldings worked with the Nez Perce. Whitman’s worked with the Cayuse. Henry Spalding and Chief Joseph

  22. Nez Perce

  23. A Pioneer’s Paradise • Marcus Whitman convinced people that Oregon was a pioneer’s paradise • In 1842, Whitman went East • He brought a large group of settlers back with him on the Oregon Trail

  24. Missionaries’ Legacy Opened the West to settlement.

  25. The Pioneer Women • Most women were wives and mothers • Some were seeking husbands, homesteads, or other opportunities

  26. On the Trail • Journey lasted 4 to 6 months and covered 2,000 miles • Generally traveled 15 to 20 miles a day • Women cooked, washed clothes, and took care of children

  27. I Love Lucy

  28. Trail Hazards • Died from disease, accidents, and drowned crossing rivers

  29. Sweet Betsy from Pike

  30. Pioneer Women’s Legacy • Brought out strengths and weaknesses they didn’t know they had • Started schools, churches, libraries, literary societies, and charitable groups • Women in western states earned the right to vote 20 years before others and this was their greatest legacy

  31. Women’s Suffrage

  32. The Mormons • Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints • Founded in New York by Joseph Smith in 1830 • Persecuted for their religion • When Smith was killed, Brigham Young took over leadership and moved community to Utah Joseph Smith Brigham Young

  33. Mormon’s Legacy • First Americans to settle in Great Basin • Pioneered farming methods for the dry regions (dams, canals, irrigation ditches) • Salt Lake City became important stop for food and supplies • Planted their Mormon faith in the Utah desert

  34. The Forty-Niners • In 1848 gold was discovered • In 1849 thousands of gold seekers came from the East, Mexico, South America, Europe, Australia, China • Their routes took around the tip of South America, through the jungles of Panama, across the Pacific Ocean, or overland across America

  35. Life in the Mining Camps • Camps were rough places with no police • Digging for gold was hard and tedious work Eureka

  36. Forty- Niners’ Legacy • Indian population was reduced in size from warfare and disease • Many Californios lost their land • By 1850, California became first state in the West California gold country

  37. The Chinese • By 1852 more than 20,000 Chinese had come to California • At first the Chinese were welcome • As gold mining became more difficult the attitude towards the Chinese changed • Miners asked the American government to drive the foreigners out of the goldfields • In 1852, the Chinese had to pay a monthly fee for a license to mine

  38. The Chinese Stay • Americans bullied the Chinese • Hacked off their braids (queues) • Burned their shacks • Beat them • Some Chinese immigrants left the mines and opened restaurants, laundries, and stores • Some became farmers in California’s Central Valley

  39. Legacy of the Chinese Immigrants • Most came in search of gold and return to China rich, a few did • Their hard work, energy, and skills benefited California • Brought with them the arts, tastes, scents, and sounds of an old and rich culture Koi pond New Year’s celebration Pottery

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