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Mining, Ranching, and Railroads: Transforming the American West

Explore the rapid growth and transformation of the American West through the mining boom, rise of the cattle industry, and completion of the transcontinental railroad. Discover the challenges, opportunities, and impact on frontier communities.

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Mining, Ranching, and Railroads: Transforming the American West

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  1. Chapter 18 Section 1 Miners, Ranchers, and Railroads Mrs. Souza

  2. Mining Boom Brings Growth • Western Boundary of the American Frontier, an undeveloped land, had reached the Pacific Ocean • The look of the West changed • Railroads • Gold and silver were the most valuable

  3. Big Business • 1859 a huge deposit of gold and silver were found in Nevada and became known as the • Comstock Lode • This is how the mining boom began • Thousands went to Nevada • Mining became a big business and was the most dangerous job

  4. Settlers and New Towns • Mining brought people from all over the world • Boomtowns were communities that grew suddenly when a mine opened • Disappeared quickly

  5. Cattle Kingdom • Cattle Industry was the next big industry • Mostly in Texas • Cattle Kingdom (Great Plains from Texas to Canada) • Workers who took care of cattle are called • Cowboys • Most important job was herding cattle to markets or to the plains for grazing • Chisholm Trail was popular route

  6. End of Open Range • The first event to lead to the end of the open range was the rise in competition for land on the plains • Farmers bought land • Barbed wire was invented • Cattle ate most of grass and severe winters ended the Cattle Kingdom

  7. Transcontinental Railroad • Pony Express used to carry mail across the United States • Very slow • Telegraph lines replaced the pony express • Americans wanted a transcontinental railroad to connect the east and west • Government granted the railroad companies millions of acres of public land to build railroad

  8. Transcontinental Railroad • Two railroad companies lead the race to build the railroad • Union Pacific • Central Pacific • Hired many Chinese immigrants to build the railroad • Many fights with Native Americans • May 10th, 1869 • Golden spike was used to connect the two railroad lines and the railroad was complete

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