The American West An Overview: 1860-1900

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The American WestAn Overview 1860-1900
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Practice EssayThe American West was a land of
opportunity for Americans in the late 1800s. To
what extent do you agree with this statement?
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Theme 1 The American west was a land of
hardship and opportunity.
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Theme 2 Western life was largely shaped by
geography.
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Theme 3 Western expansion continued to bring
American settlers into conflict with American
Indians.
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4 main economic opportunities in the West

• Farming
• Ranching
• Mining
• Railroad construction

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Land Grants to Railroads
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Farming

• What does a successful farmer need?

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Farming

• What does a successful farmer need?
• Land with tillable soil
• Adequate rainfall or irrigation
• Access to machinery and supplies
• A way to transport goods to market
• A market for the goods

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Opportunities

• Available Land
• Sources Homestead Act (from govt)
• Sales (from other land owners)

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Hardship

• Thick sod
• Lack of rainfall/water
• Social isolation
• Debt
• Low crop prices
• High freight charges
• Extreme weather
• Crop-eating Insects

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The Soddie
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Ranching
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Opportunities

• Ranching is possible in places that couldnt
  support other types of farming
• Markets existed for beef, wool, etc.

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Hardships

• Livestock susceptible to disease
• Farmers opposed open range, put up fences

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CATTLE TRAILS
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Mining
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Opportunities

• The chance to get rich

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Hardships

• Few got rich
• Large corporations began to takeover the mining
  business

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Railroad Work
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Opportunities

• Jobs

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Hardships

• Dangerous, exhausting work
• Competition for jobs kept wages low

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The Impact of Railroads

• Brought settlers west
• Allowed westerners to trade with the east
• Largest landowner in the west
• Responsible for the creation on many towns
• Encouraged slaughter of buffalo
• Accelerated conflict with Native Americans

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The Indian Wars

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

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Indian Wars background

• In reality, Indians had been at war with white
  "invaders" since about 1493 when Columbus' men
  had their first clash with Native Americans.
• Indians in the American west had been isolated
  from the pressures of U.S. expansion until after
  the Civil War.

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Indian Wars A Shift in Policy

• When expansion into the American west accelerated
  and the U.S. government changed its policy to
  "concentration." This meant moving Indians onto
  reservations.
• Some tribes peacefully signed treaties with the
  US government giving up their lands in exchange
  for promises of food and other payments. Other
  tribes fought for their lands.
• Life on reservations was worsened by corrupt
  Indian agents.

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NATIVE AMERICAN TERRITORY IN THE WEST, 1890
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Indian Wars

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

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The End Results

• All tribes were forced onto Reservations
• Traditional ways of life for Native Americans
  were endangered
• Settlers gained access to the best Western lands

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The near-extinction of the bison

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

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Reformers

• Reformers sought to save the Indian by
  civilizing the Indian. Although well
  intentioned, they were not appreciative of Indian
  cultures.

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Kill the Indian, Save the Man
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Populism

• A general definition A political philosophy
  supporting the rights and power of the people in
  their struggle against the privileged elite.
• A more specific definition A movement,
  primarily of farmers, in the late 1800s that
  demanded government aid for the common farmer and
  worker.