In 1883, Sitting Bull was a guest of honor at the opening ceremonies for the Northern Pacific Railroad. When it was his turn to speak, he said in the Lakota language, "I hate all white people. You are thieves and liars. You have taken away our land and made us outcasts." A quick-thinking interpreter told the crowd the chief was happy to be there and that he looked forward to peace and prosperity with the white people. Sitting Bull received a standing ovation.

Chapter 18, Section 1: The Mining Chapter 18, Section 1: The Mining BoomsBooms

"My eye was caught with the "My eye was caught with the glimpse of something shining glimpse of something shining in the bottom of the ditch. I in the bottom of the ditch. I reached my hand down and reached my hand down and

picked it up; it made my heart picked it up; it made my heart thump, for I was certain it was thump, for I was certain it was

gold.” Carpenter James gold.” Carpenter James Marshall.Marshall.

The Western Frontier The Western Frontier 1858-18961858-1896

Section 1: The Mining Section 1: The Mining BoomsBooms• A mining expedition founA mining expedition foun

d gold d gold on the slopes of Pikes on the slopes of Pikes Peak in the Colorado Peak in the Colorado RockiesRockies

• Miners were making 20$ Miners were making 20$ a day panning for gold (A a day panning for gold (A lot of money at the time)lot of money at the time)

• Mining companies took Mining companies took notice and set up mining notice and set up mining communities, and now communities, and now businesses had a better businesses had a better chance of getting rich chance of getting rich than the individual miner. than the individual miner.

Comstock LodeComstock Lode

• In 1859, Henry Comstock discovered a rich In 1859, Henry Comstock discovered a rich lode of silver-bearing ore in the Carson lode of silver-bearing ore in the Carson River in Nevada. The discovery was called River in Nevada. The discovery was called the the Comstock LodeComstock Lode..

• Henry Comstock sold his share of the Henry Comstock sold his share of the claim for $11,000 and two mules, a good claim for $11,000 and two mules, a good deal of money for the time period. deal of money for the time period.

• Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gold and silver were pulled from the gold and silver were pulled from the Comstock Lode gold and silver strike. Comstock Lode gold and silver strike.

Growing CitiesGrowing Cities

• BoomtownsBoomtowns:: Towns Towns that grew almost that grew almost overnight around overnight around mining sites.mining sites.

• Example: Virginia City, Example: Virginia City, Nevada was a Nevada was a boomtown. In 1859 the boomtown. In 1859 the town was a mining town was a mining camp. Two years later camp. Two years later it had a stock it had a stock exchange, banks, an exchange, banks, an opera company, and opera company, and five newspapersfive newspapers. .

Life in a BoomtownLife in a Boomtown• A fortunate miner could A fortunate miner could

make $2,000 a year, which make $2,000 a year, which was four times as much as a was four times as much as a teacher teacher . .

• Violence was an everyday Violence was an everyday part of life in a boomtown. part of life in a boomtown. People carried large amounts People carried large amounts of money and guns. of money and guns.

•VigilantesVigilantes were men who were men who took the law into their own took the law into their own hands, because there were hands, because there were rarely police or prisons. rarely police or prisons. Vigilantes would deal their Vigilantes would deal their own brand of justice, often by own brand of justice, often by means of hanging someone means of hanging someone from a tree. from a tree.

Boom and BustBoom and Bust

• Women and children made up less than 10% of Women and children made up less than 10% of boomtowns. Some opened service businesses. boomtowns. Some opened service businesses.

• Towns turned into “busts” when the gold and silver went Towns turned into “busts” when the gold and silver went dry. Virginia City’s population went from 30,000 in 1870 to dry. Virginia City’s population went from 30,000 in 1870 to under 4,000 by 1900. These are called under 4,000 by 1900. These are called Ghost TownsGhost Towns..

Railroads Connect East and Railroads Connect East and WestWest• Gold has no value Gold has no value

unless it gets back to unless it gets back to the marketsthe markets

• Markets were on the Markets were on the East Coast, gold was East Coast, gold was closer to the West closer to the West CoastCoast

• Wagon trains and Wagon trains and stagecoaches could not stagecoaches could not meet the demand, and meet the demand, and could not bring supplies could not bring supplies fast enough to minersfast enough to miners

Money from the FedsMoney from the Feds• Railroads were supported by Railroads were supported by

government government subsidiessubsidies. . Subsides were large Subsides were large financial aid ($$$) and land financial aid ($$$) and land grants from the government.grants from the government.

• Railroad companies believed Railroad companies believed the govt should give them the govt should give them the land, because railroads the land, because railroads would benefit the entire would benefit the entire nation. The govt agreed. nation. The govt agreed.

The First Big BusinessThe First Big Business

• The The Transcontinental Transcontinental RailroadRailroad went across the went across the country and connected the country and connected the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts and Atlantic and Pacific Coasts and began in the 1850’s. began in the 1850’s.

• There were two companies who There were two companies who constructed the railroads. The constructed the railroads. The Union PacificUnion Pacific and the and the Central Central PacificPacific..

• The Central Pacific hired Asian The Central Pacific hired Asian Workers and the Union Pacific Workers and the Union Pacific hired Irish and African American hired Irish and African American workers. They worked in harsh workers. They worked in harsh conditions for little pay.conditions for little pay.

Riding in LuxuryRiding in Luxury

• The railroad was The railroad was finished in 1869. It finished in 1869. It took 19 yearstook 19 years

• People started People started migrating west at migrating west at record speeds. Towns record speeds. Towns such as Denver, such as Denver, Colorado became Colorado became huge citieshuge cities

• Time zones were Time zones were created created

Section 2: Ranchers and Section 2: Ranchers and FarmersFarmers

““Behind every successful Behind every successful rancher is a wife that works in rancher is a wife that works in

town” town” UnknownUnknown

Ranchers and FarmersRanchers and Farmers

• Most of Texas was Most of Texas was open rangeopen range. This . This meant the land was not meant the land was not fenced in. fenced in.

• Ranchers Ranchers brandedbranded the the cattle, which showed cattle, which showed who owned what cattle.who owned what cattle.

• The demand for cattle The demand for cattle was in the North and was in the North and East. Sometimes East. Sometimes farmers from Texas farmers from Texas would drive 260,000 would drive 260,000 cattle north to Missouri, cattle north to Missouri, where the nearest where the nearest railroad was. railroad was.

RanchersRanchers

• Railroads quickly Railroads quickly increased value of the increased value of the cattle (similar to gold cattle (similar to gold and silver).and silver).

• The The long drivelong drive involved Texans involved Texans herding cattle over a herding cattle over a thousand miles to the thousand miles to the nearest rail station.nearest rail station.

• Life was hard and lonely Life was hard and lonely for cattle ranchers.for cattle ranchers.

Who were the Who were the Cowboys?Cowboys?

• There was a There was a diverse population diverse population who were cattle who were cattle drivers. drivers.

• Confederate Confederate SoldiersSoldiers

• African AmericansAfrican Americans

• VaquerosVaqueros (Hispanic ranch (Hispanic ranch hands) hands)

HazardsHazards

• StampedesStampedes (when (when cattle ran in a panic)cattle ran in a panic)

• Violent StormsViolent Storms

• ““Rustlers” (men who Rustlers” (men who tried to steal cattle)tried to steal cattle)

• Discrimination Discrimination based on race or based on race or originorigin

End of the Cattle BoomEnd of the Cattle Boom

• More people in the west started More people in the west started breeding cattle, which breeding cattle, which drove the drove the price downprice down

• Overgrazing developed and the land Overgrazing developed and the land sufferedsuffered

• Unprecedented cold winters in 1885-Unprecedented cold winters in 1885-1886 killed large numbers of cattle1886 killed large numbers of cattle

• The price of cattle bottomed out and The price of cattle bottomed out and many people in the west took up many people in the west took up different occupationsdifferent occupations

FarmersFarmers

• Farming at first was Farming at first was considered considered impossible in the impossible in the plains area.plains area.

• In the late 1860’s In the late 1860’s farmers began farmers began settling there and settling there and planting crops.planting crops.

• RailroadsRailroads made the made the journey west easier journey west easier and cheaper.and cheaper.

Homestead ActHomestead Act• The The Homestead ActHomestead Act

gave 160 free acres of gave 160 free acres of land who was willing to land who was willing to pay a filing fee and pay a filing fee and lived on the land for lived on the land for five years.five years.

• HomesteadHomestead means to means to earn ownership of land earn ownership of land by settling on it.by settling on it.

• Homesteading brought Homesteading brought thousands of new thousands of new settlers, including settlers, including immigrants and single immigrants and single women (married women (married women could not own women could not own land). land).

Ten percent of the land in the United States was Ten percent of the land in the United States was settled under this law. The red on the map below settled under this law. The red on the map below shows all the homesteading states. The red portion shows all the homesteading states. The red portion of the map represents the 30 states that of the map represents the 30 states that homesteaded.homesteaded.

African AmericansAfrican Americans• Many African Americans Many African Americans

now unprotected when now unprotected when reconstruction ended in reconstruction ended in 1877 moved to Kansas 1877 moved to Kansas and claimed land.and claimed land.

• They called themselves They called themselves ExodustersExodusters which was which was a term used by the Jews a term used by the Jews who escaped slavery in who escaped slavery in Egypt. Egypt.

• By 1881 more than By 1881 more than 40,000 African 40,000 African Americans had Americans had migrated to Kansasmigrated to Kansas

Extreme WeatherExtreme Weather

• The weather varied from drought which The weather varied from drought which dried crops and sometimes caused dried crops and sometimes caused wildfire, to severe rain, which would cause wildfire, to severe rain, which would cause flooding.flooding.

• Grasshoppers and other insects became so Grasshoppers and other insects became so fierce they would swarm to crops and fierce they would swarm to crops and devour the entire plant. devour the entire plant.

• Snow in winter was so severe it could bury Snow in winter was so severe it could bury animals and trap families in their home.animals and trap families in their home.

New MethodsNew Methods

• SodbustersSodbusters were plains farmers who tried were plains farmers who tried new approaches to farming.new approaches to farming.

• Dry FarmingDry Farming buried seeds far in the ground buried seeds far in the ground where there was moisture. This was possible where there was moisture. This was possible when steel plows replaced wooden plows in when steel plows replaced wooden plows in the late 1870’s. the late 1870’s.

• Dry farming didn’t produce large amounts of Dry farming didn’t produce large amounts of crops, which meant low profits for farmers. crops, which meant low profits for farmers. Many went into debt and lost their land. Many went into debt and lost their land.

Dry farmingDry farming

Families Families • Men worked the fields Men worked the fields

most of the day.most of the day.

• Women did the same, Women did the same, and also cared for the and also cared for the children, sometimes children, sometimes acting as doctor and acting as doctor and teacher, because there teacher, because there weren’t any in the plains. weren’t any in the plains.

• Children did chores Children did chores around the farm, and the around the farm, and the work usually kept them work usually kept them from attending school. from attending school.

• Schools and churches Schools and churches developed as the developed as the population slowly grew. population slowly grew.

Oklahoma Land Rush Oklahoma Land Rush

• Oklahoma was designated Indian Oklahoma was designated Indian Territory by the Govt in the 1830’s. Territory by the Govt in the 1830’s.

• In 1889, the Govt backed out of there In 1889, the Govt backed out of there treaty and opened the land to treaty and opened the land to Homesteaders. Homesteaders.

• Boomers Boomers were homesteaders that were homesteaders that ventured into Oklahoma. ventured into Oklahoma.

America Has ExpandedAmerica Has Expanded

• In 1890, the govt announced the In 1890, the govt announced the frontier was closed, and the land was frontier was closed, and the land was taken. taken.

Section 3: Native Section 3: Native American StrugglesAmerican Struggles

"Where the Indian killed one "Where the Indian killed one buffalo, the hide and tongue buffalo, the hide and tongue

hunters killed fifty." hunters killed fifty." Chief Red Chief Red CloudCloud

Native American Native American StrugglesStruggles

• Most of the plains Indians, Most of the plains Indians, including the Sioux, the including the Sioux, the Comanche, and the Comanche, and the Blackfeet, lived a Blackfeet, lived a NomadicNomadic life. This means life. This means they traveled great they traveled great distances following their distances following their source of food (Buffalo). source of food (Buffalo).

• American hunters hired American hunters hired by railroad companies by railroad companies after the Civil War after the Civil War slaughtered the buffalo to slaughtered the buffalo to feed workers and clear feed workers and clear the path so buffalo would the path so buffalo would not block the trains. not block the trains.

No interest at firstNo interest at first

• White people regarded White people regarded the Plains as the the Plains as the “Great American “Great American Desert,” therefore for Desert,” therefore for most of time left the most of time left the Native Americans Native Americans alone.alone.

• When whites began When whites began settling the plains, settling the plains, they tried a new policythey tried a new policy

Reservation PolicyReservation Policy

• In 1867 the Indian Peace Commission In 1867 the Indian Peace Commission developed a policy toward Native developed a policy toward Native Americans. Americans.

• The commission recommended moving The commission recommended moving the Native Americans to a few large the Native Americans to a few large ReservationsReservations- tracts of land set aside - tracts of land set aside for them. This was not a new policy, but for them. This was not a new policy, but a higher effort was made in that a higher effort was made in that direction.direction.

Move Your LifeMove Your Life

• One reservation was in Oklahoma, where One reservation was in Oklahoma, where Native Americans from the South-east Native Americans from the South-east were relocated in the 1830’swere relocated in the 1830’s

• Another was in the Dakota territory, where Another was in the Dakota territory, where the Sioux people livedthe Sioux people lived

• The govt tricked Native Americans to The govt tricked Native Americans to move and live on the worst land possible. move and live on the worst land possible. They also failed to deliver needed food They also failed to deliver needed food and supplies. and supplies.

Conflict on the PlainsConflict on the Plains

• Many bands of Native Americans Many bands of Native Americans throughout the country responded with throughout the country responded with violent tactics, attacking miners, violent tactics, attacking miners, ranchers, and farmers while stealing ranchers, and farmers while stealing their money, food, and other supplies their money, food, and other supplies that were taken from them.that were taken from them.

• Americans responded with planned Americans responded with planned massacres of Native American Villages.massacres of Native American Villages.

Little BighornLittle Bighorn

• In the In the Black HillsBlack Hills of the Dakotas, the Sioux of the Dakotas, the Sioux were promised that no American would set were promised that no American would set foot in their territory.foot in their territory.

• However, a rumor started that gold was in However, a rumor started that gold was in that territory. Colonel George Custer led an that territory. Colonel George Custer led an expedition to the Dakotas. expedition to the Dakotas.

• Instead of respecting the rights of the Sioux, Instead of respecting the rights of the Sioux, the govt tried to buy the hills. the govt tried to buy the hills. Chief Sitting Chief Sitting Bull,Bull, the leader of the Sioux refused. the leader of the Sioux refused.

Little Bighorn CtdLittle Bighorn Ctd

• Custer dreamed of a major victory for Custer dreamed of a major victory for himself. He was ordered to scout the Sioux himself. He was ordered to scout the Sioux encampment. He divided his troops and encampment. He divided his troops and attacked on July 25, 1876.attacked on July 25, 1876.

• Custer greatly underestimated the Sioux. Custer greatly underestimated the Sioux. His 250 troops went against a combined His 250 troops went against a combined Sioux and Cheyenne force of over a Sioux and Cheyenne force of over a thousand. The entire army was killed, only thousand. The entire army was killed, only Custer’s horse was left standing. Custer’s horse was left standing.

• News of defeat shocked the nationNews of defeat shocked the nation

A shallow victoryA shallow victory

• The victory was The victory was short livedshort lived• Reinforcements from the government Reinforcements from the government

came, crushed the uprising and sent came, crushed the uprising and sent everyone to reservations. everyone to reservations.

• The Sioux escaped to Canada, however The Sioux escaped to Canada, however after years of starvation, they too were after years of starvation, they too were forced to reservations. Sitting Bull was forced to reservations. Sitting Bull was the last chief to surrenderthe last chief to surrender

The Dawes ActThe Dawes Act

• The The Dawes ActDawes Act in 1887 proposed to break in 1887 proposed to break up tribes and give them land. It was meant up tribes and give them land. It was meant to encourage Native Americans to to encourage Native Americans to eventually become American citizens.eventually become American citizens.

• The government proposed to sell land to The government proposed to sell land to the Sioux, although the land was poor. the Sioux, although the land was poor.

• The government stated that the land could The government stated that the land could be used for farming, however the Sioux be used for farming, however the Sioux were hunterswere hunters

Ghost DanceGhost Dance• In 1890 the Sioux tried to preserve In 1890 the Sioux tried to preserve

their culture by performing a ritual their culture by performing a ritual called the called the Ghost DanceGhost Dance. It was a way . It was a way to preserve their culture that the to preserve their culture that the Dawes Act was trying to destroy.Dawes Act was trying to destroy.

• Word spread throughout the Word spread throughout the reservation and police went to arrest reservation and police went to arrest Sitting Bull. During an argument, they Sitting Bull. During an argument, they shot and killed Sitting Bullshot and killed Sitting Bull

• After the first shot was fired, the After the first shot was fired, the crowd that gathered panicked and crowd that gathered panicked and fled, while the soldiers killed of Sitting fled, while the soldiers killed of Sitting Bulls wife and their son.Bulls wife and their son.

““Bury my heart at Wounded Bury my heart at Wounded Knee”Knee”• Hundreds of Sioux fled after Sitting Bulls death Hundreds of Sioux fled after Sitting Bulls death

and met at a creek called and met at a creek called Wounded KneeWounded Knee. The . The army went there to collect their weapons.army went there to collect their weapons.

• Know one knows how fighting started, but when Know one knows how fighting started, but when a pistol shot was heard the army opened fire. a pistol shot was heard the army opened fire.

• There was speculation a soldier tried to take a There was speculation a soldier tried to take a gun away from a deaf Siouxgun away from a deaf Sioux

• More than 200 Sioux were killed. Only 25 More than 200 Sioux were killed. Only 25 soldiers died since most of the weapons were soldiers died since most of the weapons were collected previously Wounded knee was the collected previously Wounded knee was the end of armed conflict, and the Native end of armed conflict, and the Native Americans had lostAmericans had lost

End ResultEnd Result

• Over the next 50 years, the govt divided Over the next 50 years, the govt divided up Native Americans into reservations. up Native Americans into reservations. Homesteaders acquired most of the Homesteaders acquired most of the valuable land. Native Americans received valuable land. Native Americans received dry plots of land that were not suitable for dry plots of land that were not suitable for farming.farming.

• Within decades, 90 million acres of land Within decades, 90 million acres of land Native Americans acquired from the Native Americans acquired from the Dawes Acts were taken and sold to whitesDawes Acts were taken and sold to whites

The Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court

• In 1980, The U.S. Supreme court ruled that In 1980, The U.S. Supreme court ruled that the 1876 seizure of the Black Hills violated the 1876 seizure of the Black Hills violated treaty with the Siouxtreaty with the Sioux

• Justice Blackman wrote, “A more ripe and Justice Blackman wrote, “A more ripe and rank case of dishonorable dealings will rank case of dishonorable dealings will never, in all probability be found in our never, in all probability be found in our history”history”

• The court did not return the land to the The court did not return the land to the Sioux, and offered money instead Sioux, and offered money instead

In allIn all

• The award, which is now worth $600 The award, which is now worth $600 million, remains unclaimedmillion, remains unclaimed

• To date, the Sioux will not agree to To date, the Sioux will not agree to surrender their claim to the Black surrender their claim to the Black Hills, a place they feel is sacredHills, a place they feel is sacred

Section 4: Farmers in Section 4: Farmers in ProtestProtest

The average age of a Kansas The average age of a Kansas farmer is 58 ½ years old, and farmer is 58 ½ years old, and

in many communities no in many communities no young people are returning to young people are returning to

farming because no money farming because no money can be made. can be made. Jerry MoranJerry Moran

Farmers in ProtestFarmers in Protest

• 1866: A bushel of wheat cost sold for 1866: A bushel of wheat cost sold for $1.45$1.45

• Mid 1880’s: Price dropped to 80 centsMid 1880’s: Price dropped to 80 cents• Mid 1890’s: Price was 49 centsMid 1890’s: Price was 49 cents• This means farmers were not making as This means farmers were not making as

much money for the same amount of much money for the same amount of workwork

• Farmers blamed the railroad companies, Farmers blamed the railroad companies, eastern manufacturers, and bankerseastern manufacturers, and bankers

A Farmers Union A Farmers Union

• Farmers organized what was called Farmers organized what was called the the National GrangeNational Grange. The grange . The grange offered farmers education, offered farmers education, fellowship, and support. fellowship, and support.

• The grange set up “cash only” The grange set up “cash only” cooperativescooperatives, stores where farmers , stores where farmers bought products from each other. bought products from each other. This way they didn’t use credit This way they didn’t use credit buying, which was a problem for buying, which was a problem for farmers.farmers.

I have to pay to ship my I have to pay to ship my Goods?Goods?

• The Grange asked railroads to limit The Grange asked railroads to limit shipping rates. This worked shipping rates. This worked temporarily, but eventually the temporarily, but eventually the industry convinced the states to industry convinced the states to repeal the rate regulations. repeal the rate regulations.

• Many farmers were so in debt that Many farmers were so in debt that the cooperatives failed as well. the cooperatives failed as well.

Farmers Alliance Farmers Alliance

• The The Farmers AllianceFarmers Alliance sprang up in the West sprang up in the West and South in the 1880’s.and South in the 1880’s.

• Had the same effects as the grange, only Had the same effects as the grange, only were able to have the govt store crops in were able to have the govt store crops in warehouses and lend money to desperate warehouses and lend money to desperate farmers. This plan would reduce the power farmers. This plan would reduce the power that banks, merchants, and railroads had over that banks, merchants, and railroads had over farmers. farmers.

• Regional differences and personality clashes Regional differences and personality clashes drove the alliance apart. drove the alliance apart.

The Populist PartyThe Populist Party

• Members of the alliance formed the Members of the alliance formed the Populist Party. Populism is an appeal to is an appeal to the common people. the common people.

• Populists wanted the govt to own railroads Populists wanted the govt to own railroads and telegraph lines, not businesses. and telegraph lines, not businesses.

• They wanted They wanted Free SilverFree Silver, or the unlimited , or the unlimited production of silver coins. This would make production of silver coins. This would make more money available for poor farmers. more money available for poor farmers.

Impact of PopulistsImpact of Populists

• James Weaver of Iowa ran for James Weaver of Iowa ran for president in 1892 and got 8% of the president in 1892 and got 8% of the vote. Populists made strong showing vote. Populists made strong showing in 1894 and 1896 too. in 1894 and 1896 too.

• Free silverFree silver scared many people scared many people away from the party for fear putting away from the party for fear putting more silver into the market would more silver into the market would ruin the economy. ruin the economy.

A Populist for PresidentA Populist for President

• In 1896 the populists supported In 1896 the populists supported William Jennings BryanWilliam Jennings Bryan for president. for president. He was a democratic candidate who He was a democratic candidate who supported many populist ideas. He supported many populist ideas. He passionately believed in the passionately believed in the cause of the farmerscause of the farmers. .

• With the economy recovering however, With the economy recovering however, he lost the election to republican he lost the election to republican William McKinley.William McKinley.