The Settlement of the Western Frontier

Opportunity and Opposition in the American West

““Manifest Destiny”Manifest Destiny”

Native Americans and the WestNative Americans and the West The western frontier The western frontier

had long been seen had long been seen as the “great as the “great unknown”, mostly unknown”, mostly Indian Territory; with Indian Territory; with some white some white American presence.American presence.

Shaped by past Shaped by past American-Indian American-Indian policypolicy

• Indian Removal Indian Removal Act (1830)Act (1830)

• Worcester v. Worcester v. Georgia Georgia (1832) (1832) and President and President Jackson’s Jackson’s response.response.

• Cherokee “Trail of Cherokee “Trail of Tears” (1835)Tears” (1835)

• ReservationsReservations

Life of Plains IndiansLife of Plains Indians

Miners

• Thoughts of striking it rich first brought miners to the West into Colorado, California, and Nevada, in the 1850’s.

• Mining continued to attract settlers into the late 1800’s.

• Booms and Busts (ghost towns).

Industrialization Impacts the Industrialization Impacts the West: RAILROADSWest: RAILROADS

Impact of the RailroadsImpact of the Railroads

The Decline of the BuffaloThe Decline of the Buffalo

A New Way of Life: Native A New Way of Life: Native AmericansAmericans Without buffalo, the traditional way of life of Native Americans was threatened.Without buffalo, the traditional way of life of Native Americans was threatened.

New American policy was to reorganize reservations, and to force Indians to New American policy was to reorganize reservations, and to force Indians to assimilate: Dawes Act (1887).assimilate: Dawes Act (1887).

At first, many Native Americans tried to fight back, but after the Battle of At first, many Native Americans tried to fight back, but after the Battle of Wounded Knee (1890), it appeared that the armed struggle between Native Wounded Knee (1890), it appeared that the armed struggle between Native Americans and Whites was over.Americans and Whites was over.

Further Incentives for Settling Further Incentives for Settling the Westthe West

1860-1900—Federal land grants 1860-1900—Federal land grants 48 million acres granted under 48 million acres granted under

Homestead Act (1862)Homestead Act (1862) 100 million acres sold to private 100 million acres sold to private

individuals, corporationsindividuals, corporations 128 million acres granted to railroad 128 million acres granted to railroad

companiescompanies

FarmersFarmers Factors bringing Factors bringing

farmers to the farmers to the plains:plains:

1.1. RailroadsRailroads

2.2. Free landFree land

3.3. Higher rainfallHigher rainfall better farmlandbetter farmland

FFaarrmmeerrss

“sodbusters

”

“Exoduster

s”

Dry

farming

Ranchers and the Long Ranchers and the Long DriveDrive

At the Turn of the Century: The At the Turn of the Century: The WestWest

Life was not easy for people in the West– Life was not easy for people in the West– Native Americans, Farmers, Miners and Native Americans, Farmers, Miners and Ranchers.Ranchers. Natives’ way of life was threatened and then Natives’ way of life was threatened and then

forever changed.forever changed. Miners left boomtowns and ghost townsMiners left boomtowns and ghost towns Ranchers found overgrazing and new breeds Ranchers found overgrazing and new breeds

that ended the need for the Long Drive.that ended the need for the Long Drive. Farmers faced hard times– with low yields Farmers faced hard times– with low yields

and high costs to get goods to market. and high costs to get goods to market.