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Bell Ringer. You are moving to college across the country. Due to school cut-backs, your dorm room will not be furnished in any way. What are the items you will need to bring with you?. Closing the West. Conquering America's Frontier. What is the American Dream?.
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Bell Ringer You are moving to college across the country. Due to school cut-backs, your dorm room will not be furnished in any way. What are the items you will need to bring with you?
Closing the West Conquering America's Frontier
What is the American Dream? To nineteenth century Americans, it was a plot of land to call your own, that – through hard work – would prosper and you could pass down to your children.
The Westward Movement “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” • Americans continued to move westward in large numbers, but proved to have lots of difficulties, hardships, and diseases. • Generally speaking, the westerners were independent, stubborn, uneducated, and individualistic and ambitious in their own way. • Emerging literature reflected these unique types of people such as Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self-Reliance”, James Fenimore Cooper's woodsy hero "Natty Bumpo" or Herman Melville's whale-hunting "Captain Ahab."
Ralph Waldo Emerson “To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; This is to have succeeded.”
The March of the Millions • By the mid 1800's the population continued to double every 25 years. • There were 33 states and America was the 4th largest nation in the world. • In 1790, only two cities had more than 20,000 people. By 1860, there were 43 cities that size. • The west was growing quickly, witnessed by New Orleans and Chicago ("hog butcher for the world"). • The drawback of such fast growth was poor sanitation. Later on, pipes would bring in clean water and sewers would take out the bad. • The increase came from a high birthrate but also from immigration. • Two groups came en masse: the Irish and Germans. • The appeal of America was for land, religious freedom, safety from wars, but mostly, just the opportunity for a better life than in Europe.
Shaping the Western Landscape • Tobacco farmers were accustomed to "land butchery" where they'd wear out a piece of land, then just move on to find more. • "Kentucky bluegrass" began to thrive after settlers burnt off the tall cane grass, perfect for livestock. • Fur trappers were taking a toll on the beaver population but reaping the profits of their sales. Beaver hats had become a fashion must-have back in Europe. • Buffalo hides also were big business and the buffalo population began to dwindle. • Although the land was to be used, Americans respected it and noticed its beauty. • George Catlin was an artist who painted western scenes and Native Americans. He was a first advocate of national parks and his suggestion eventually became the first national park, Yellowstone in 1872.
January 24, 1848 – Sutter’s Mill, Coloma, California
Don’t work harder, Work SMARTER!
When life hands you lemons, make lemonade! ...And then SELL IT!
Comstock Lode
Outlaws, Lawmen, and Entertainers: Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Wild West Medicine • Medicine in the west was primitive, at best. Doctors had little to no “clinical” training, and few materials to administer to the sick, injured, and dying. Homeopathic potions and “Indian remedies” were most common, including herb poultices, alcohol, and narcotic concoctions meant to cure a variety of “ailments”.
I Want To BE a Cowboy’s Sweetheart
The American Buffalo
"Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds" The Pony Express
