Chapter 2 SETTLING THE WEST 1860 1900 Objectives

Chapter 2 SETTLING THE WEST (1860 -1900)

Objectives �Lessons 1 & 2: Mining and Ranching & Farming the Plains � 1) Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of key challenges faced when settling the West. � 2) Students will be able to explain the idea of MANIFEST DESTINY, and its role in settling the West Standards US 1: Explain patterns of agricultural and industrial development as they relate to climate, use of natural resouces, markets and trade, the growth of major urban areas, and describe the geographic considerations that led to the location of specialized industries US 4: Analyze the causes and consequences of Gilded Age politics and economics, including the rise of political machines, major scandals, civil service reform, and the economic difference b/w farmers, wage earners, and industrial capitalists

Settling the West MANIFEST DESTINY 19 th century doctrine that westward expansion of the U. S. was not only inevitable but a God given right *Manifest Destiny encouraged westward expansion *Manifest Destiny justified the mistreatment of Native Americans because they were considered uncivilized. It was the right and “duty” of Americans to civilize & Christianize the Native Americans.

Manifest Destiny The term "manifest destiny" was first used by journalist John O'Sullivan in the New York Democratic Review in 1845. O'Sullivan wrote in favor of the U. S. annexing Texas, a region that the U. S. recognized as independent of any other nation. “…For this blessed mission to the nations of the world, which are shut out from the life-giving light of truth, has America been chosen; and her high example shall smite unto death the tyranny of kings, hierarchs, and oligarchs, and carry the glad tidings of peace and good will where myriads now endure an existence scarcely more enviable than that of beasts of the field. Who, then, can doubt that our country is destined to be the great nation of futurity? ” *In simple terms, Manifest Destiny was the idea that Americans were destined, by God, to govern the North American continent.

“American Progress” – John Gast

“American Progress” Analyze the “American Progress” painting by John Gast and briefly respond to these questions in your notes: 1) Describe what is happening in the picture? 2) What does the woman represent? 3) What does the artist want you to think, know, and feel? 4) What is the artist’s opinion about westward expansion?

Bell Work Briefly explain the concept of Manifest Destiny and describe how it influenced the settlement of the American West. *Should be at least 3 – 5 sentences. Write in your notes (be prepared to share answers)

Lessons 1 & 2– Transformin g the West Manifest Destiny realized RAILROADS Western Settlement MINING RANCHING FARMING

Railroads open the West ◦ Transcontinental Railroad built connecting East & West – authorized by Congress during the Civil War Private Companies Built RAILROADS While MANIFEST DESTINY encouraged Western settlement, RAILROADS allowed for people to move WEST *It took 250 years to settle first 400 million acres **It took 30 years to settle next 400 million acres (1870 -1900) ◦ Central Pacific – Mostly Chinese immigrants ◦ Union Pacific – Mostly Irish immigrants Supported By Government ◦ Land Grants ◦ for every mile of track laid in a state, RR companies received 10 square miles ◦ For every mile of track laid in a territory, RR companies received 20 square miles ◦ 170 million acres (1/2 billion $ worth of land) ◦ Loans & Subsidies Transcontinental RR finished 1869 at PROMONTORY POINT, UTAH Settlement of Western Territories follows ◦ Ten territories become states (1864 – 1896)

Transcontinental Railroad

Promontory Point, UTAH (May 10, 1869)

Discovery of Gold or Silver ◦ Major discoveries in Nevada (Comstock Lode), Colorado (Pikes Peak), Black Hills (Dakotas) People move to area Mining Towns Boomtowns to ghost towns Mining helped to: 1)Finance the Civil War 2)Facilitate building of RR 3) Intensified bitter conflict between white settlers & Native Am. ◦ Miners want to strike it rich – “Prospectors” Boomtowns created ◦ Communities developed around mining – Leadville, CO; Helena, MT; Denver, CO ◦ Saloon keepers, boarding houses, casinos, hotels ◦ Justice and order needed to limit violence & lawlessness ◦ Marshalls & Sheriffs ◦ Vigilantes – Self-appointed enforcer of the law ◦ Vigilance Committees - group of citizens organized to find criminals and bring justice.

Mining Leads to Statehood Mining and Western settlement ◦ Nevada – Comstock Lode in 1864 led prospectors to flood the area ◦ “Pikes Peak or Bust” – Gold and Silver in Colorado; Denver becomes 2 nd largest western city ◦ North and South Dakota– Black Hills gold rush ◦ Montana – Copper Mining/Ranching Big Business Took over ◦ Once loose surface gold was gone, big machinery was needed to mine & extract minerals ◦ Hydraulic Mining – method of mining by which water was sprayed at a very high pressure to expose large deposits of minerals beneath the surface ◦ Corporations came to dominate mining & advanced techniques along the way (quartz mining)

Mining

Boom Towns Creede, Colorado (Silver Mining) Now

Mining Regions

“Ghost Towns” (Calico, CA)

Cattle Ranching Open Range System – cattle grazed on un-fenced property ◦ Cattle business on the Great Plains expanded after the Civil War due to the demand for beef in growing cities ◦ Railroads allowed ranchers to make profit off cattle ◦ Started to round up the longhorn cattle and ship them east to market END OF THE OPEN RANGE 1)Overgrazing 2)Barbed Wire 3) Bad weather – harsh winters and dry summers ◦ COWBOYS – drove herds of cattle across the open range ◦ Language, skills , and identity influenced by Mexican vaqueros ◦ Real-life of cowboy differed greatly from romanticized myths of the “old west” ◦ 35, 000 worked b/w 1864 & 1884 (drove over 5, 000 head of cattle during this time) ◦ Cattle drives lasted about 3 months – dangerous overland transport of cattle herds ◦ Legends of the West: “Wild Bill” & “Calamity Jane”

Barbed Wire Ends the Open Range

Settling the Hispanic Southwest With the U. S. victory over Mexico in the Mexican-American War in 1848, the U. S. acquired the vast region of the American Southwest. ◦ Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo – granted the region’s residents property rights and citizenship ◦ As Americans moved to the West, cultures clashed. ◦ Hispanic Americans struggled to hold on to economic, political, and cultural dominance ◦ Increasingly, the original Hispanic population found its status diminished and often relegated to lower paying and less desirable jobs

US Land Acquisition

Mexican Land Given to the USA TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO – 1848