New South/Last West

1. New South/Last West 1877-1900

2. Postwar North & South Postwar North Growing industrial economy War spending encouraged rapid growth Uniform national banking system Steadily increasing work force Free blacks Southern/Eastern European immigration High protective tariffs Postwar South Financial devastation (tremendous loss of capital) Agricultural ruin Social and economic dislocation Former slave population affected disproportionately

3. New South Politics -- “Redeeming the South” Republicans attempted to seize control through Reconstruction Able to elect African American members of Congress and state legislators Republican party reached many poor Southern whites Scalawags—Southern whites who voted Republican “Bourbon” Democrats successfully used race to replace class as a political issue Unable to maintain lasting control through the 1880’s but held a substantial minority

4. New South “Redeemers” are successful in restoring white Democratic control in the South Use of intimidation by groups such as the KKK against black voters Social and economic pressures exerted against blacks and poor whites Distrust of Northern “carpetbag” governments Political failures result in the social and economic subordination of former slaves Jim Crow laws Subsequently backed by the Supreme Court Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)—doctrine of “separate but equal”

5. New South Southern economy Model of the “New South”—Northern industry + Southern graces Largely unsuccessful—South remains largely agricultural Economically, South is an “economic colony” of North Land is controlled primarily by wealthy interests (crop lien economy) Crop prices tied to Northern markets Most farmers—single crop, small plot sharecroppers Inefficient methods, low yields, little/no profit Deep in debt Policies of the “Redeemer” governments Laissez faire—low tax burden Widespread state and local corruption

6. Last West Rapid settlement of remaining land in the American West Cattle Kingdom Rapid growth of Midwestern cattle industry Eastern demand for beef Open range ranching Cattle moved long distances to market Aided by the growth of railroads Transcontinental railroad completed 5/10/69 Creation of the cowboy as an American institution Featured in popular culture Comes to an end after 1887 Barbed wire closes open range Massive die off (drought and temp) Replaced by high grade stock

10. Last West Mining Bonanza Colorado rush 1859 Comstock Lode discovered in Nevada Also in Montana and South Dakota Farming the Plains Homestead Act (1862)--Granted 160 acres of free land, if individual would settle and make improvements Attempted to give land to individuals (Failed) Act primarily benefits large interests Farmers in constant conflict with railroads Dependent for transportation of crops Charged high rates for freight Railroads had been given huge land grants by federal government (land specs/bonanza farms)

12. Indian Wars Great Plains had originally been set aside as Indian territory Abundance of settlers, mining, cattle, and railroads create new pressure on Indian tribes “Concentration” policy (1851)—tribes would be resettled to small geographic areas of undesirable land Bureau of Indian Affairs (corrupt and dishonest policies angered tribal leaders) Indian conflicts Sand Creek Massacre First and Second Sioux Wars Custer’s Last Stand (enrages American public) Ghost Dance Movement Battle of Wounded Knee

16. Indian Wars Attempts to destroy Indian culture Subsidized extermination of the buffalo by US gov. Forced assimilation Dawes Act—breaks up tribal holdings among indiv. Mandatory education by gov. schools Ever increasing pressure of removal Oklahoma Land Rush Treaties disregarded

18. How realistic is our popular portrayal of the Wild West?