The Western Frontier

1800-1880

Lewis and Clark

Lewis and Clark:Two Army Captains were sent by Thomas Jefferson to explore and map the Louisiana Purchase

The Trails

The Santa Fe Trail took settlers to the Mexican Cession.

The Mormon Trail took Mormons to Utah.

The Oregon Trail took settles to Oregon

The California Gold Rush

When gold was found in California, farmers, factory workers, ex-soldiers, immigrants and African-Americans went to make a fortune. Called ’49ers.

The Alamo

Texas was a Mexican State that wanted independence. American citizens fought along side the Texans against the Mexican General Santa Anna.

The Homestead Act An act passed by congress in 1862. It

promised ownership of a 160-acre tract of public land to a person or family who had resided on and farmed the land for five years.

Native Americans

After several wars the Native Americans were defeated and the United States began to settle their land.

Indian Removal Act

Andrew Jackson urged Congress to pass a law that moved all Native American tribes west of the Mississippi.

Native Americans

Reservations: Native American tribes were moved to reservations where they could live.

Native Americans

The Dawes Act: Split up reservation land among the tribes Forced Native Americans to learn

American ways in boarding schools.

I am tired of fighting. Our chiefs are killed. Looking Glass is dead. Toohoolhoolzote is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say, "Yes" or "No." He who led the young men [Olikut] is dead. It is cold, and we have no blankets. The little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are -- perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my chiefs! I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.

Chief Joseph’s surrender speech on October 5, 1877

Native Americans Tecumseh led the Shawnee in

Northwest Territory (Ohio Valley) against American settlers:

Sitting Bull lead the Sioux

Chief Joseph led the Nez Perce in fighting the U.S. Calvary and not moving to reservations.

Geronimo lead the Apache Wagon Trains and fought the U.S. Calvary.

People In the Frontier

Homesteaders: People who moved west to get the free land under the Homestead Act.

People In the Frontier

Exodusers: African American Freedmen who left the south to look for a better life.

Mexicanos: Spanish speaking people who already lived in the land that the United States had captured in the Mexican War.