The document summarizes how the western frontier of the United States was acquired and settled between the early 1800s to late 1800s. It discusses how the US acquired land through treaties and wars with Mexico and Native Americans. It also explains some of the economic opportunities and challenges of settling the frontier, including ranching cattle, working on railroads, prospecting for gold, and living off the land through homesteading. Key events that enabled western expansion included the Louisiana Purchase, Mexican-American War, Gold Rushes, and the building of transcontinental railroads.

1. Western Frontier

2. How did the US acquire lands? Louisiana Purchase, Mexican-American War, Annexation of TX, Adams-Onis Treaty, & Treaty of Ghent (Oregon Territory)

3. Why did people come West? Escape debt &/or the law Economic gain (land was cheap, but not fertile) Social gains: Easily change occupations/reinvent yourself Lure of gold & silver

4. Who was already there? Plains Indians (Sioux, Cheyenne, & others) Indian Removal Act (1830): Pres. Jackson & Congress negotiated treaties that forced NA to move West. Trail of Tears: Cherokee were forced to make 800 mile journey & live on inferior land. Worcester v Georgia: Supreme Court stated that NA had right to keep land, but Jackson made them move anyway. NA did not believe land could be owned Wounded Knee: US army slaughtered 350 unarmed NA, including women & children. Brought Indian Wars to an end.

5. Economic Opportunities: Ranching TX long horns (cattle) were herded on the dry Western grasslands (first brought by Spanish) American cowboys learned to round up, rope, brand, and care for cattle from Mexican vaqueros (cowboys) Demand for beef soared after Civil War Railroads increased beef production

6. Railroads Chinese & Irish immigrants did most of the dangerous/grueling work Helped transport beef & crops to markets in the East Transported supplies needed for Western settlement Transcontinental RR (1869): RR went from coast to coast. Met at Promontory Point, UT

7. Free Land Homestead Act: 160 acres free for US citizen if agreed to cultivate for 5 yrs. Oklahoma Land Rush (1889): US gov’t opened NA lands to white settlers. Morrill Land Act: Gave $ to establish farming colleges & technology. Soddies: Settlers lived in shelters made of grass & mud in the sides of hills.

8. Soddy

9. Gold CA gold rush (49ers) SD, CO, AK had gold discoveries Only 200 out of every 200,000 struck it rich

10. Problems Severe weather: Cold winters, Dry summers, tornadoes Indian Attacks Took gov’t a long time to regulate/police large, vast area