Chapter 17 The Diverse Peoples of the W est

1. Chapter 17The Diverse Peoples of the West What drew new settlers to the western part of the United States in the 1800s?

2. 17.1 Introduction • Pioneers had different reasons for coming • Cheap land • New religion • Gold rush • Settlers did not care about the people already in the West • Impacted the Mexicanos and the Nez Percés

3. 17.2 The West in the Mid-1800s • Writers were writing about the West • It was cheap • Families with a small amount of money could own land • In 1848 there was news of gold in California • People started to head to California • People who went by water sailed around South America or sailed to Central America and took ships to California, most went by land • Most of the newcomers didn’t respect the people who already lived in the west or their land • Some took away the land of people who have had that land for a long time • Settlers broke land treaties and took the land

4. 17.3 Mexicanos • Many Mexicanos had ranchos • Most were just for raising cattle • Traded goods like hides and fat • Also grow crops • Had cowboys watch over their land • Had special tools and clothing: lariat (rope), sombreros (wide- brimmed hat), chaps (protects their legs from thorny bushes) • Food: rich beef stew and tortillas • built their houses out of clay bricks (adobe) • Dug ditches to get water • Made songs about current events called corridos • Were outnumbered by settlers • Settlers didn’t give them respect

5. 17.4 Forty-Niners • Forty- niners were people who went to California for the Gold Rush • Hoped to get rich quickly • Some were a former or run away slave • Lots of the gold was in the river • Scraped gold off rocks in the river and panned for gold • Many worked in groups using a sluice • Hard and lonely life • Lived in tents and shacks • Many went home with no profit

6. 17.5 Chinese Immigrants • Chinese learned about the gold rush in 1851 • Sailed to California looking for the “Golden Mountain” • Hopped to earn money then return home • Most Chinese were poor • When they got to California most of the gold that was easy to find was gone • Worked together in abandoned mines • Figured out new ways to find gold by using tools they made • American miners were jealous of the Chinese • Government put a tax on foreign miners • Americans also used violence and threats to get to Chinese to go

7. 17.5 Chinese Immigrants • Many Chinese people helped to build the first railroad that spread across North America • They were in the Central Pacific Railroad • Skilled at laying track • Earned less than everyone • Long hours • Riskier jobs • Some had to carve tunnels through solid rock • Dangerous work • Completed the railroad in 1869

8. 17.5 Chinese Immigrants • Had to get new jobs • Storeowners, farmers, fishermen, • Americans still didn’t like them • Accused Chinese of taking their jobs for less money • Some Chinese were forced to leave • Some were killed • In 1882 Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act • Stopped most Chinese from coming to the United States • Years passed until they could come back

9. 17.6 Mormons • Were looking for religious freedom • Joseph Smith founded Church of Christ • He was an inspiring preacher • Many accompanied him when he went west • Americans attacked them • Didn’t like their beliefs • Mormons moved • Non- Mormons feared that they had to much power • Some Mormon men were accused of having more than one wife • Joseph and his brother were arrested • Mob broke into the jail and killed them

10. 17.6 Mormons • In 1846 Mormons left Illinois and went to Nebraska • Their new leader, Brigham Young, said they would only be safe in the West • Started to go in 1847 • Built cabins, planted crops, and dug wells for other groups coming • Young decided they were staying in Great Salt Lake • Started to build their city • More Mormons started to come • left messages for others in animal skulls • Missionaries gained new followers • Wouldn’t be forced out of their homes again

11. 17.7 Oregon Pioneers • In the 1840’s news of Oregon Country spread East in lots of ways • Fur traders • Forests and farmlands • Religious leaders • Told settlers to move • Newspapers and books • Good life of farming, fishing, and trading • In 1843 one thousand people in Missouri organized a wagon train headed to Oregon • Loaded the wagons with supplies

12. 17.7 Oregon Pioneers • Hard work • Men drove wagons, herded cattle, found camp, and guarded the wagons • Women set up camp, washed clothes, and cooked • Also took care of the sick • Travelers got diseases, suffered hunger and cold, poisoned by water • Many died • Found lots of grass for animals • Crossing rivers, steep mountains, and deserts were dangerous • Passed through American Indian land • Some were nice and traded • Some were mad because their cattle was eating the buffalo’s grass • In 1845 thousands of people had traveled the Oregon Trail

13. 17.8 Nez Percés • Lived in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington • They went places with prized horses • Ate salmon, wild berries, and plants • White settlers began farming on their land • Made treaties promising the Nez Percés some land and whites other land • Government persuaded the Nez Percés onto a reservation • To avoid war some headed towards the reservation • Chief Joseph refused to go • He feared US soldiers would attack his tribe • He lead his people to Canada

14. 17.8 Nez Percés • Soldiers chased them • They hid and fought the soldiers • They were 40 miles away from Canada when soldiers found them • Chief Joseph surrendered • U.S. promised they could return home • They actually took them to a reservation in Oklahoma • Half of the tribe died • Some were allowed to return to Idaho and Washington • They never went back to their land