The American WestThe American WestAn Overview: An Overview:

1860-19001860-1900

““The American West was The American West was a land of opportunity for a land of opportunity for

Americans in the late Americans in the late 1800s.” To what extent 1800s.” To what extent do you agree with this do you agree with this

statement?statement?

The American The American west was a land west was a land of hardship and of hardship and

opportunity.opportunity.

Western life was Western life was largely shaped by largely shaped by

geography.geography.

Western expansion Western expansion continued to bring continued to bring American settlers American settlers into conflict with into conflict with

American Indians.American Indians.

4 main economic 4 main economic opportunities opportunities

in the Westin the West

FarmingFarming RanchingRanching MiningMining Railroad constructionRailroad construction

Land Grants to RailroadsLand Grants to Railroads

FarmingFarming

What does a successful farmer need?What does a successful farmer need?

FarmingFarming

What does a successful farmer need?What does a successful farmer need?

Land with tillable soilLand with tillable soil Adequate rainfall or irrigationAdequate rainfall or irrigation Access to machinery and suppliesAccess to machinery and supplies A way to transport goods to marketA way to transport goods to market A market for the goodsA market for the goods

OpportunitiesOpportunities

Available LandAvailable Land Sources: Homestead Act (from Sources: Homestead Act (from

gov’t)gov’t)

Sales (from other land Sales (from other land owners)owners)

HardshipHardship

Thick sodThick sod Lack of rainfall/waterLack of rainfall/water Social isolationSocial isolation DebtDebt Low crop pricesLow crop prices High freight chargesHigh freight charges Extreme weatherExtreme weather Crop-eating Insects Crop-eating Insects

The “Soddie”The “Soddie”

RanchingRanching

OpportunitiesOpportunities

Ranching is possible in places that Ranching is possible in places that couldn’t support other types of couldn’t support other types of farmingfarming

Markets existed for beef, wool, etc. Markets existed for beef, wool, etc.

HardshipsHardships

Livestock susceptible to diseaseLivestock susceptible to disease Farmers opposed open range, put up Farmers opposed open range, put up

fencesfences

CATTLE TRAILSCATTLE TRAILS

MiningMining

OpportunitiesOpportunities

The chance to get richThe chance to get rich

HardshipsHardships

Few got richFew got rich Large corporations began to Large corporations began to

takeover the mining businesstakeover the mining business

Railroad WorkRailroad Work

OpportunitiesOpportunities

JobsJobs

HardshipsHardships

Dangerous, exhausting workDangerous, exhausting work Competition for jobs kept wages lowCompetition for jobs kept wages low

The Impact of RailroadsThe Impact of Railroads

Brought settlers westBrought settlers west Allowed westerners to trade with the Allowed westerners to trade with the

easteast Largest landowner in the westLargest landowner in the west Responsible for the creation on many Responsible for the creation on many

townstowns Encouraged slaughter of buffaloEncouraged slaughter of buffalo Accelerated conflict with Native Accelerated conflict with Native

AmericansAmericans

The Indian WarsThe Indian Wars

"It makes little difference, however, "It makes little difference, however, where one opens the record of where one opens the record of history of the Indians; every page history of the Indians; every page and every year has its dark stain. and every year has its dark stain. The story of one tribe is the story of The story of one tribe is the story of all."all."

--Helen Hunt Jackson--Helen Hunt Jackson

Indian Wars: Indian Wars: backgroundbackground

In reality, Indians had been at war In reality, Indians had been at war with white "invaders" since about with white "invaders" since about 1493 when Columbus' men had their 1493 when Columbus' men had their first clash with Native Americans.first clash with Native Americans.

Indians in the American west had Indians in the American west had been isolated from the pressures of been isolated from the pressures of U.S. expansion until after the Civil U.S. expansion until after the Civil War.War.

Indian Wars: A Shift in Indian Wars: A Shift in PolicyPolicy

When expansion into the American west When expansion into the American west accelerated and the U.S. government accelerated and the U.S. government changed its policy to "changed its policy to "concentrationconcentration." ." This meant moving Indians onto This meant moving Indians onto reservations.reservations.

Some tribes peacefully signed treaties with Some tribes peacefully signed treaties with the US government giving up their lands in the US government giving up their lands in exchange for promises of food and other exchange for promises of food and other payments. Other tribes fought for their payments. Other tribes fought for their lands.lands.

Life on reservations was worsened by Life on reservations was worsened by corrupt Indian agents.corrupt Indian agents.

NATIVE AMERICAN NATIVE AMERICAN TERRITORY IN THE WEST, TERRITORY IN THE WEST,

18901890

Indian WarsIndian Wars

Beginning in 1862, the U.S. army Beginning in 1862, the U.S. army began a series of violent conflicts began a series of violent conflicts with various Native American tribes. with various Native American tribes. Together, these conflicts are known Together, these conflicts are known as the "Indian Wars." The goal of as the "Indian Wars." The goal of U.S. policy was to force U.S. policy was to force uncooperative tribes onto uncooperative tribes onto reservations and to secure western reservations and to secure western lands for white owners.lands for white owners.

The End Results The End Results

All tribes were forced onto All tribes were forced onto ReservationsReservations

Traditional ways of life for Native Traditional ways of life for Native Americans were endangeredAmericans were endangered

Settlers gained access to the best Settlers gained access to the best Western landsWestern lands

The near-extinction of The near-extinction of the bisonthe bison

Buffalo were hunted for sport, for Buffalo were hunted for sport, for their valuable furs, and as an their valuable furs, and as an intentional way to hurt Indian tribes intentional way to hurt Indian tribes that relied on the animal for that relied on the animal for survival.survival.