1. Changes on the Western Frontier Clashes on The Frontier

2. Native Americans-pushed to Great Plains • Life centered on horse and buffalo • Buffalo provided food, clothing, shelter

3. Settlers Arrive • Post Civil War • Gold discovered (Colorado plus)= miners flock to gold discoveries • Homestead act =Cheap/free land for farmers • African Americans, Germans, Scandinavians

4. Twice Promised Land… • Plains had been earlier granted to Native Americans • More settlers come, US govt attempts to renegotiate • Conflict • Broken treaties, gold discovered bringing more settlers

5. More bad news • Dawes Act-force assimilation of Native Americans into white culture • Destruction of Buffalo, replaced with cattle ranching

6. Transcontinental Railroad • Promotes settlement of the plains • Govt. gives land tracts to railroad companies • RR recruited settlers all over Europe • Sold some of it for cheap prices to farmers • Homestead Act

7. Conservation Movement/National Parks

8. Populist Movement • Farmers in trouble: Civil War over, money supply shrank, making each dollar in circulation worth more. Farmers want “cheap money” • Populist Party • Polices to help farmers • Direct election of senators and secret ballot • Candidate William Jennings Bryant, backs cheaper money. Didn’t win, but demands were heard.