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American Studies. The Western Frontier. Consider the following changes that occurred in the United States in the late 19 th century: Overcrowding of cities Increases in immigration from Europe Opportunity for farming and mining in rural areas These changes led to:
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American Studies The Western Frontier
Consider the following changes that occurred in the United States in the late 19th century: • Overcrowding of cities • Increases in immigration from Europe • Opportunity for farming and mining in rural areas • These changes led to: • A. rapid growth of urban areas • B. acquisition of overseas territories • C. elimination of large suburbs around many cities • D. movement of people to the western frontier Practice Question
Our superior/dominant race is destined to conquer the West and spread our culture • Many thought it was God’s plan • Our nationalistic/ethnocentric ideas • http://www.mdianeharrison.com/5th%20Grade%20Westward%20Expansion%20Manifest%20Destiny.htm Manifest destiny
After the Civil War: The Great Plains: Flat grassy land between the Missouri River and Rocky Mountains The Great Basin: Dry desert lowland between the Rocky Mtns and the Sierra Nevada Mtns The Final Frontier
Native Americans see Plains as sacred land that supports their way of life • Millions of buffalo used for: • Meat for food • Pelt for clothes • Skin for shelter • Bones for tools • Manure for fuel/fertilizer The Plains People
In the 19th century, many Americans considered Native Americans to be inferior to people of the European ancestry. This resulted in discrimination and conflict between European settlers and Native Americans. One consequence of this discrimination was that many Native Americans were: • A. removed from their former homeland • B. prevented from trading with European settlers • C. forced to maintain their cultural heritage • D. persecuted for killing buffalo on the Great Plains Practice Question
Three groups that settled the final western frontier: • Miners: Get rich quick off gold and silver • Cattle Ranchers: Make money off raising cows • Homesteaders: Farming families 1850s: Settlers from the east
California Gold Rush: 1849 Rocky Mountain Gold Rush: 1859 Silver in Nevada Copper in Montana Gold in Black Hills of the Dakotas 100s of remote mining towns pop up all over the west Mining frontier
1860/70s: Best way to make money in Texas Hire cowboys to drive cattle to market in the east Cattle can graze anywhere on open range Load onto train in Kansas for slaughterhouse in Chicago meatpacking industry Cattle Frontier
The Homestead Act (1862): Govt invites people to claim 160 acres of land just by settling on it Farmers of wheat and corn mostly Many acres taken by spectators: buy land only to sell it for a higher price later Homesteaders
Industrialization leads to new technology to make farming easier • Windmills to power pumps for underground water • Combines, silos, grain elevators • US Govt needs frontier settled in order to form new states • Railroads need laborers to build, goods to ship, workers for the trains, and towns to go to • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w__1GyfQPQ Frontier Pioneers
Ranchers vs. Farmers: Barbed Wire Wars • Barbed wire invented in 1874 to fence in farmland • Ranchers/Cowboys want open range for grazing cows but farmers want their land protected • Cowboys cut wires; get in gun fights with farmers The Wild west: Violent conflict
Outlaws: Criminals/con artists who steal others gold or livestock to get rich quick Small towns have little govt: Citizens carry guns and take the law into their own hands Vigilantes: Self-appointed police force Results in shoot-outs and death without trial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DU0mdThjg4 Outlaws vs. Vigilantes
Drought, disease, far from stores and neighbors, hard physical labor Few trees: First homes made of sod/dirt Women: Never-ending chores, make everything by hand, have 10+ children Women civilize mining/cow towns: Schools, libraries, doctors, theaters Hazards and Hardships of Frontier Life
Removal from homeland since 1830s • US breaks many treaties with Natives • Wars between Natives and Pioneers • Sioux victory at Little Bighorn • US Army revenge at Wounded Knee: massacre of Native American men, women, and children • Natives lose and surrender because: • They fight as tribes not united nation • They were outnumbered; lost many to disease • They had primitive weapons Treatment of Native Americans
During the 19th century, white settlers moved west searching for a new life. However, they moved into lands that were already claimed by the Native Americans. After many broken treaties and battles the Native Americans were forced to move to: • A. cities such as New York and Boston • B. reservations which were lands settlers did not want • C. mining towns of the west • D. other countries like Mexico and Canada Practice Question
Reservation: Designated undesirable land set aside for Native Americans • Often barren, Natives don’t farm they hunt • Dawes Act: Offers 160 acre plots on reservation • Natives don’t believe in private land • 1924: Granted full citizenship • 1960s-Present: Red Power • Gain more control over laws and land with more aid and compensation Native American Civil Rights