1. Eastern settlers moved West in the late 1800s due to factors like inexpensive land through the Homestead Act and railroads, as well as a desire for new opportunities. 2. Conflict arose between white settlers and Native Americans as settlers moved onto tribal lands. Treaties were made but often broken, leading to battles between the groups. 3. By the 1890s, the U.S. government had defeated Native American resistance through policies of assimilation and relocating tribes to reservations, taking their lands for further western settlement.

1. Days 1 & 2: Movement West & Native American Conflict – Class Notes<br />The Movement WestHere’s What We’ll Learn:The West’s GeographyWhy Easterners moved WestConflict with Native Americans“Assimilation” of Native AmericansThe Cattle BoomLiving in the West<br />Why Move West?PULL Factors:Railroads—sold left-over land cheapHomestead Act (1862)—160 acres A. Had to be 21 years old or head of a family B. Had to be an American citizen or immigrant applying for citizenship C. Had to live on land at least 6 months of every year for 5 yearsRailroads (Transcontinental Railroad) sold leftover land for really cheap prices<br />Why Move West?PUSH Factors: A. Eastern farmland costly B. Restart (African-Americans) C. Escape religious repression (Mormons)Who Settled? A. Germans Immigrants: Texas to Missouri B. African-Americans: Kansas (Exodusters) C. Scandinavians: Iowa & Minnesota (climate) D. Mexicans: Texas & New Mexico<br />Fighting Native Americans A. Whites: “Indian Problem” B. Natives: Life or death—must do an all-out assault C. Great Plains was their area: nomadic—followed buffalo herds. Was Indian Land until the Gold Rush & Homestead Act D. First—made treaties (some kept; others not) to buy land, stop movement of Nomads, or put Natives in Reservations, but DIDN’T LAST LONG<br />Result: Battles1871: U.S. Government: decided it won’t sign treaties with Native Americans anymore; just fight them instead A. Battle lines shifted; forts couldn’t be built; desertion common B. “Buffalo Soldiers” (10th Cavalry) were African-American soldiers C. Battle of Little Bighorn (1876): Custer’s Last Stand—Sitting Bull & Crazy Horse (Sioux) won. Custer’s men were ambushed and the Native Americans quickly won, killing everyone but one Army horse. D. Battle of Wounded Knee (1890): Last battle between Natives & US Army; 300 unarmed Native Americans slaughtered by troops with Gatlin guns, left unburied in the snow. Marked the end of Native American resistance.<br />New Policies Towards NativesThey were defeated after the Battle of Wounded Knee, so…1. Assimilation: Goal was for Native Americans to give up their culture, learn English, children go to school2. Dawes Act: Created many new reservations, Natives given 160 acres & granted US citizenship (went against Native ideas of shared land & tribal leadership, undermined tribal social structure and tribal authority)3. More land for settlement (squatters)<br />Homesteaders A. Difficult life (~$1000 setup) B. Sod house (leaky roofs; dirt floors) C. Farming: no machines; tough land (backbreaking labor) D. Pests: grasshopper & mosquito infestations; rattlesnakes get into sod homes easily) E. Droughts common in great Plains F. Help was on the way: irrigation; farm machinery (both increased debt) G. “Bonanza Farms” were created too: enormous farms owned by wealthy land speculators and run by hundreds of hired hands.<br />Money Makers: Some made struck it rich during the Gold Rush, but the vast majority remained poor. A. Major gold mines: Sutter’s Mill (Ca. Gold Rush), Comstock Lode (Silver & Gold in Nevada), Black Hills (many ores in Dakotas) B. Result: boom towns C. Cattle drive (Great Plains): Texas ranchers’ cattle escaped when they went to fight for the Confederacy D. US: beef binge; ranchers made $ E. Cowboys: 18 hour days! F. Cattle boom ended due to barbed wire fencing off the open plain, bad weather and overgrazing of the plains.<br />