The West 1865-1900

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The West1865-1900
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Objective

• -explain the causes of westward migration
  including the rise of industrialization, concept
  of Manifest Destiny, perceptions of overcrowding,
  increased immigration, opportunities for cheap
  land, and the discovery of gold and silver.
• -Analyze the impact of government settlement
  policy on migration west such as the Homestead
  Act of 1862, state land grants acts, and the
  development of the Transcontinental Railroad.
• -Compare maps of the USA in 1860 to 1900 and
  explain the impact of western settlement on
  various groups.
• -Create a class mission statement and goals.

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Warm-Up

• What do you know about the West?

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United
States in 1860

• Directions Compare and Contrast the two maps and
  answer the questions below

United States in 1900

• List the changes from the map of 1860 to this map
  of 1900.
• 2. In your opinion, what group of people has been
  most affected by the settlement of the west?
• 3. Why did the west change so dramatically in
  just 40 years?
• 4. With most of the land settled in the USA where
  will the US look to settle in the next 40 years?

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Reasons for Going West

• Directions With your partner, brainstorm at
  least 5 reasons why someone would want to move
  west during the late 1800s.

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Reasons for Going West

• Industrialization-faster production and the
  growth of cities lead some out west where life
  was slower.
• Railroads-provided a quicker way to get out west
  for people and goods
• Improved technology-better farming of dry soil,
  improved irrigation methods
• Manifest destiny-Belief that it is your right to
  acquire as much land as possible. Expand the US
  from coast to coast.
• American dream-In America you will live well. Out
  west you can pursue this dream freely
• Overcrowding in cities-as more immigrants came in
  and more people moved to the cities for factory
  jobs some decided to take up life out on the open
  plains.
• Immigration-immigrants were chasing the American
  Dream out west or fleeing cities when they could
  not find work or did not like the conditions of
  city life
• Cheap land-Land out west could be bought for
  pennies. The Homestead Act provided free land for
  those who would live on it and make improvements.
• Discovery of gold and silver-The desire to get
  rich quick and the belief that the West was full
  of riches

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The Western Frontier

• Write a brief description of each photo and
  explain how that person/group contributed to life
  out West.
• Description A question you
  have about the photo

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Homesteaders

• -White middle-class businesspeople or farmers
  from the Mississippi Valley moved west.
• -They could afford money for supplies and
  transportation.
• -European settles were lured by economic
  opportunity, they came from Scandinavia, Ireland,
  Russia, and Germany.
• -They brought their farming experience with
  them.
• -Many participated in Land Rushes to gain land

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European settlers

• Lured by economic opportunity, they came from
  Scandinavia, Ireland, Russia, and Germany.
• They brought their farming experience with them.

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African American settlers

• Benjamin Singleton urged his own people to build
  communities.
• Some fled the violent South.
• Rumors of land in Kansas brought 15,000
  Exodusters who also settled in Missouri, Indiana,
  and Illinois.

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The Mountain Men

• Primarily fur trappers and traders who traveled
  across the western plains hunting animals and
  trading their skins.
• Buffalo, Foxes, Eagles all were hunted for sale.
• These men also offered their services as
  surveyors for the in-coming railroads.

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The Cattle Boom
The Spanish were the first ranchers in the West,
raising cattle under dry and difficult
conditions. They bred the hardy Texas longhorn
and started sheep ranching. Grazing lands were
needed for both.
Origins of ranching
Growing populations in the East needed food. The
age of the cattle drive had arrived. Cowboys
drove the cattle to towns with railroads to be
shipped to meatpacking centers such as Chicago.
One of the most famous cattle trails was the
Chisholm Trail.
Demand for beef
Joseph Glidden invented barbed wire, allowing
ranchers to enclose grazing lands. Privately
owned ranches spread quickly, and investors
transformed the cattle business into big
business. Two years of severe winters brought
huge losses to the industry.
Ranching as big business
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Striking Gold and Silver

• Discovering gold and silver
• After the California gold rush, Colorado was
  next. Most who went there were disappointed, but
  the silver in the Comstock Lode in Nevada lasted
  for more than 20 years.
• The Klondike gold rush
• The Yukon Territory was the site of a huge gold
  rush, but getting there was treacherous.
  Canadians required miners to bring a years worth
  of supplies with them, and that was a difficult
  task. Reports of gold for the taking were false.

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• Mining camps and towns
• Thousands of men poured into mining areas. Camps
  were hastily built and had no law enforcement.
  Vigilante justice was used to combat theft and
  violence.
• Camps become towns
• Some camps developed into towns, with hastily
  constructed buildings of stores and saloons.
• As towns developed, women and children came to
  join the men, making the towns more respectable.
  Townspeople established churches, newspapers, and
  schools.

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Chinese settlers -Initially came for the
gold rush or to build railroads -They turned to
farming, especially in California, establishing
the fruit industry there. -Most Chinese were
farm laborers because they were not allowed to
own land.
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!!!!!!!!Wait!!!!!!!

• What is missing?
• What group have we not seen yet?
• Discuss with a partner

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3-2-1

• List 3 new ideas that you have learned
• List 2 questions you have
• List 1 thing you would like to learn more about.

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1. Add up the necessities to for the 6 month
journey across the plains. 2. BCR Knowing the
high cost and the risks involved why would people
want to make this journey? Explain using examples
and details.