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Westward Expansion Begins

Westward Expansion Begins. 1 st Impression of Great Plains. Stephen Long: “Great American Desert” Uninhabitable & an “obstacle in settling the country”. Map of Great Plains. The Railroad & Westward Expansion. 1) Increased accessibility Expansion/construction of RRs

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Westward Expansion Begins

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  1. Westward Expansion Begins

  2. 1st Impression of Great Plains • Stephen Long: “Great American Desert” • Uninhabitable & an “obstacle in settling the country”

  3. Map of Great Plains

  4. The Railroad & Westward Expansion • 1) Increased accessibility • Expansion/construction of RRs • Trans-Continental RR (1869) • Changed perception of Great Plains

  5. Economic Potential & Wealth • Ranching (Cattle) • Basis of settlement & economic growth in S. Great Plains • Became big business in mid/late 1800s due to: • 1) High demand/low supply of beef in E. USA • 2) Ready supply of product (Longhorns) • 3) low operating costs • 4) Increased ease of transportation to market • Ranching declined by late 1800s

  6. Economic Potential & Wealth • Homesteading/Farming • Basis for settlement & economic growth in central & upper Great Plains • Why now? • Increased expansion/marketing by RRs • Climate changed (more rain) making farming possible • Increased availability of land (Homestead Act) • New technology & crops

  7. New farming Inventions

  8. Challenges Faced by homesteaders • 1) Little shelter & Few trees • 2) little water • 3) little food • 4) Extreme Temps • 5) Nature’s Fury

  9. Effects of Farming on the Great Plains • 1) Overproduction • 2) Environmental Degradation

  10. Economic Potential & Wealth • Mining • Basis for settlement & economic growth in Far West • Why mining? • Demand for minerals changed dramatically as the US changed from a farming nation to an industrial nation • Mining began w/ CA Gold Rush (1849)

  11. Methods of Mining • Placer/surface mining • Pans & shovels • Sluice mining • troughs & “riffle boxes” • Hydraulic mining • High pressure water sprayers used to wash away dirt & rock to expose the minerals underneath • Quartz mining • Digging deep mine shafts and miners dig tunnels underground to extract minerals

  12. Notable Mining Events • 1) Comstock Lode & Virginia City (1859) • 2) Pikes Peak (1858) & Leadville (1878) • 3) Black Hills & Deadwood (1874) • 4) Arizona & Tombstone (1879)

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