2. Here’s What We’ll Learn The West’s Geography Why Easterners moved West Conflict with Native Americans Attempted “assimilation” of Native Americans The Cattle Boom Living in the West
4. Why Move West? Pull Factors: Railroads—sold left-over land cheap Homestead Act (1862)—160 acres 21 years old or head of a family American citizen or immigrant applying for citizenship Live on land for 6 months for 5 years Railroads (Transcontinental Railroad)
5. Why Move West? Push Factors: Eastern farmland costly Restart (African-Americans) Escape religious repression (Mormons) Who Settled? Germans Immigrants: Texas to Missouri African-Americans: Kansas (Exodusters) Scandinavians: Iowa & Minnesota (climate) Mexicans: Texas & New Mexico
6. Fighting Native Americans Whites: “Indian Problem” Natives: Life or death—must do an all-out assault Great Plains was their area: nomadic—followed buffalo herds Indian Land until the Gold Rush & Homestead Act First—made treaties (some kept; others not) to buy land, stop movement of Nomads, or put Natives in Reservations
7. Result: Battles 1871: U.S. Government: won’t sign treaties any more; fight instead Battle lines shifted; forts couldn’t be built; desertion common Buffalo Soldiers (10th Cavalry) Battle of Little Bighorn (1876): Custer’s Last Stand—Sitting Bull & Crazy Horse (Sioux) won Battle of Wounded Knee (1890): Last battle between Natives & US Army
8. New Policies Towards Natives They were defeated, so… 1. Assimilation: Give up culture, learn English, children go to school 2. Dawes Act: Created many new reservations, Natives given 160 acres & granted US citizenship (went against Native ideas of shared land & tribal leadership) 3. More land for settlement (squatters)
9. Homesteaders Difficult life (~$1000 setup) Sod house (leaky roofs; dirt floors) Farming: no machines; tough land (backbreaking labor) Pests: grasshopper & mosquito infestations; rattlesnakes get into sod homes easily) Droughts common in great Plains Help was on the way: irrigation; farm machinery (both increased debt) “Bonanza Farms” were created too
10. Making Money Sutter’s Mill (Ca. Gold Rush) Comstock Lode (Silver & Gold in Nevada) Black Hills (many ores in Dakotas) Result: boom towns Cattle drive (Great Plains): Texas ranchers’ cattle escaped when they went to fight for the Confederacy US: beef binge; ranchers made $ Cowboys: 18 hour days! Cattle boom ended as price dropped and land became fenced
