Closing thewesternfrontier

By E. Bosland, Kinnelon High School

Railroad ConstructionRailroad ConstructionRailroad ConstructionRailroad Construction

Promontory Point, UTPromontory Point, UT(May 10, 1869)(May 10, 1869)

Promontory Point, UTPromontory Point, UT(May 10, 1869)(May 10, 1869)

Railroads Impact

• Cattle industry

– Cowboys, diet, refrigerated cars

– Cowtowns (Dodge, Tombstone, Sedalia, Denver, Kansas City)

• Transcontinental- One of the Greatest achievements in US history

– Central Pacific- Union Pacific

– Gold Spike

– Unified East and West

– Encouraged and exploited immigration (irish, Chi)

– Time Zones- Prof. Charles Dowd- backed by RR

– Elimination of Buffalo Herds-

The Fall of the The Fall of the CowboyCowboy

Frederick RemingtonFrederick Remington

The Bronc BusterThe Bronc BusterFrederick RemingtonFrederick Remington

William “Buffalo Bill” William “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s Wild West Cody’s Wild West

ShowShow

William “Buffalo Bill” William “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s Wild West Cody’s Wild West

ShowShow

Legendary Female Western Legendary Female Western CharactersCharacters

Legendary Female Western Legendary Female Western CharactersCharacters

Calamity JaneCalamity JaneCalamity JaneCalamity Jane Annie OakleyAnnie OakleyAnnie OakleyAnnie Oakley

““Buffalo Bill” Cody & Sitting Buffalo Bill” Cody & Sitting BullBull

““Buffalo Bill” Cody & Sitting Buffalo Bill” Cody & Sitting BullBull

hollywood

The Traditional View of the The Traditional View of the WestWest

The Traditional View of the The Traditional View of the WestWest

Colt .45 RevolverColt .45 RevolverColt .45 RevolverColt .45 Revolver

God didn’t make men equal.God didn’t make men equal.Colonel Colt did!Colonel Colt did!

Legendary Gunslingers & Train Legendary Gunslingers & Train RobbersRobbers

Legendary Gunslingers & Train Legendary Gunslingers & Train RobbersRobbers

Jesse JamesJesse James

Billy the KidBilly the Kid

Dodge City Peace Dodge City Peace Commission, 1890Commission, 1890Dodge City Peace Dodge City Peace Commission, 1890Commission, 1890

ProspectingProspectingProspectingProspecting

Mining Centers: Mining Centers: 19001900

Mining Centers: Mining Centers: 19001900

Anaconda Copper Mining Co. Anaconda Copper Mining Co. (MT)(MT)

Anaconda Copper Mining Co. Anaconda Copper Mining Co. (MT)(MT)

Mining (“Boom”) Towns--Mining (“Boom”) Towns--Now Ghost TownsNow Ghost Towns

Mining (“Boom”) Towns--Mining (“Boom”) Towns--Now Ghost TownsNow Ghost Towns

Calico, CACalico, CACalico, CACalico, CA

Long Horns

• Long legs

• Disease resistant

• rugged

The Range WarsThe Range WarsThe Range WarsThe Range Wars

SheepHerders

CattleRanchers

TheThe

CattleCattle

TrailsTrails

TheThe

CattleCattle

TrailsTrails

Land Use: 1880sLand Use: 1880sLand Use: 1880sLand Use: 1880s

Regional Population Regional Population DistributionDistribution

by Race: 1900by Race: 1900

Regional Population Regional Population DistributionDistribution

by Race: 1900by Race: 1900

Regional Population Regional Population DistributionDistribution

by Race: 1900by Race: 1900

Regional Population Regional Population DistributionDistribution

by Race: 1900by Race: 1900

BlackBlack“Exoduster”“Exoduster”HomesteadHomestead

ersers

Black CowboysBlack Cowboys

The Buffalo Soldiers on the Great The Buffalo Soldiers on the Great PlainsPlains

The Buffalo Soldiers on the Great The Buffalo Soldiers on the Great PlainsPlains

A Romantic ViewA Romantic ViewA Romantic ViewA Romantic View

The Buffalo Soldiers & the Indian The Buffalo Soldiers & the Indian WarsWars

The Buffalo Soldiers & the Indian The Buffalo Soldiers & the Indian WarsWars

The “Chinese Question”The “Chinese Question”The “Chinese Question”The “Chinese Question”

Exclusion Act (1882)Exclusion Act (1882) - Oriental Exclusion - Oriental Exclusion ActAct - Chinese Exclusion - Chinese Exclusion ActAct

Homestead Act

• 1862

• 160 acres for 5 years of improvement

• 500,000 families took advantage

• Best land taken by speculators and RR

• Sooners- Land Race

Oklahoma land race• Oklahoma, once

Indian terr. Is opened for settlement- 4 land races determine ownership

• Sooners. - People that snuck across line b/f line start of race

• Last real breakdown of frontier.

Garden myth• Western boosters popularized the myth of the

Garden to encourage settlement during the second half of the nineteenth century.

• Charles Dana Wilber was one of the leading advocates of this myth He based this claim on "scientific" evidence that purportedly proved that "rain follows the plow.”

• The credibility of the Garden myth was strengthened by the unusually high levels of rainfall recorded throughout the 1870s and early 1880s, which further encouraged settlement.

• Families began to leave with signs on their wagons, "In God we trusted, in Kansas we busted."

Rain Follows the Plow!Rain Follows the Plow!Rain Follows the Plow!Rain Follows the Plow!

God speed the plow.... By this wonderful provision, which is only man's mastery over nature, the clouds are dispensing copious rains ... [the plow] is the instrument which separates civilization from savagery; and converts a desert into a farm or garden.... To be more concise, Rain follows the plow. Charles Dana Wilber

Ah, Nebraska Land, Sweet Nebraska Land!

Upon thy burning soil I stand.

And I look away, across the plains,

And I wonder why it never rains.

Plains Problems

• Lack of precipitation

• Very Windy- tornados

• Lack of building materials – wood

• Very cold- short growing season

• Dense Sod

What is the Message of this What is the Message of this Picture?Picture?

What is the Message of this What is the Message of this Picture?Picture?

The Realty--A Pioneer’s Sod The Realty--A Pioneer’s Sod House, SDHouse, SD

The Realty--A Pioneer’s Sod The Realty--A Pioneer’s Sod House, SDHouse, SD

Tornado Alley

New Agricultural TechnologyNew Agricultural Technology

(solutions)(solutions)

New Agricultural TechnologyNew Agricultural Technology

(solutions)(solutions)

““Prairie Fan”Prairie Fan”Water PumpWater Pump

Steel Plow [“Sod Steel Plow [“Sod Buster”]Buster”]

Barbed WireBarbed WireBarbed WireBarbed Wire

Joseph Joseph GliddenGliddenJoseph Joseph GliddenGlidden

More New Tech.

McCormick ReaperRussian Wheat

•Disease Resistant•Tolerates cold weather•Can handle drought

Frederick Jackson TurnerFrederick Jackson TurnerFrederick Jackson TurnerFrederick Jackson Turner

The Significance of the Frontier The Significance of the Frontier in American Societyin American Society (1893)(1893)

Frontier Settlements: 1870-Frontier Settlements: 1870-18901890

Frontier Settlements: 1870-Frontier Settlements: 1870-18901890

Movement west

• Solutions to Indian Problem- Assimilation, Relocation, extermination.- TJ

• Black Hawk war- 1832- – Western Illinois, Iowa– Black Hawk- chief of Sawk tribe– Four month war– Ends with massacre of 200– Froced onto rez.

• Cherokee- Trail of Tears- AJ- 1835

• Fort Laramie Tr

Movement west

• Trail of tears- 1835-AJ

• Fort Laramie treaty-1851– Native control of central plains– Natives promise to not attack passing settlers– Annual payments to natives– Ignored by US and Settlers– Natives forced onto rez.

Treaty of Ft. Laramie Treaty of Ft. Laramie (1851)(1851)

ColoradoColoradoGold Rush Gold Rush

(1859)(1859)

Utes-Worthless land, -Out of way of RR-Destroyed by violent prospectors-Horace Greeley-Horse culture.

Colonel John ChivingtonColonel John ChivingtonColonel John ChivingtonColonel John Chivington

Kill and scalp all, big Kill and scalp all, big and little!and little!Sandy Creek, CO Sandy Creek, CO MassacreMassacreNovember 29, 1864November 29, 1864

300 plus Cheyenne and 300 plus Cheyenne and Arapahoe. slaughtered Arapahoe. slaughtered in their sleep.in their sleep.

Survivors paid off to Survivors paid off to keep silentkeep silent

Treaty of Medicine Treaty of Medicine Lodge Creek (1867)Lodge Creek (1867)

22ndnd Treaty of Treaty of Ft. Laramie (1868)Ft. Laramie (1868)

ReservationReservationPolicyPolicy

ReservationReservationPolicyPolicy

Gold Found in Gold Found in the Black the Black

Hills of the Hills of the Dakota Dakota

Territory!Territory!

18741874

Gold Found in Gold Found in the Black the Black

Hills of the Hills of the Dakota Dakota

Territory!Territory!

18741874

Custer!!• West Point- low in class

• Fought at 1st bull run- 1861

• Brig. Gen. in 1863

• Present at Gettysburg

• Chased Lee w/ Grant in 1865

• Fought w/ Mexicans in their Revolution

• Punished for infidelities w/ superiors wife.

• Forced to serve in West and protect railways.

• Poor relations with Indians.

The Battle of Little Big HornThe Battle of Little Big Horn18761876

The Battle of Little Big HornThe Battle of Little Big Horn18761876

Chief Sitting BullChief Sitting Bull

Gen. GeorgeGen. GeorgeArmstrong Armstrong

CusterCuster

Hollywood

Battle Result

• Custer- 7th Cav. Destroyed

• 260 dead soldiers

• Solidifies US popular opinion against natives

• Victory?

• Sitting bull, Crazy horse, Custer b/c legends.

Chief Joseph Chief Joseph I will I will fight no more forever!fight no more forever!

Chief Joseph Chief Joseph I will I will fight no more forever!fight no more forever!

Nez Percé Nez Percé tribal tribal

retreat (1877)retreat (1877)

• Oliver Howard-US cav Gen.

• Nez Pierce– 800, mostly elderly, children and women– Traveled 1700 miles– Pursued by 2000 soldiers– Joseph surrenders within 35 miles of Canadian

border.

Geronimo, Apache Chief: Geronimo, Apache Chief: Hopeless CauseHopeless Cause

Geronimo, Apache Chief: Geronimo, Apache Chief: Hopeless CauseHopeless Cause

Helen Hunt JacksonHelen Hunt JacksonHelen Hunt JacksonHelen Hunt Jackson

A Century of DishonorA Century of Dishonor (1881) (1881)A Century of DishonorA Century of Dishonor (1881) (1881)

Dawes Severalty Act Dawes Severalty Act (1887):(1887):

Assimilation PolicyAssimilation Policy

Dawes Severalty Act Dawes Severalty Act (1887):(1887):

Assimilation PolicyAssimilation Policy

Carlisle Indian School, PACarlisle Indian School, PA

Dawes Severalty Act

• 1887• Abandon the practice of dealing with natives as

separate nations• Designed to break up tribes-which many felt stood

in the way of assimilation• 160 acre plots for per family• Citizenship tro those that stayed on it 25 years• 47 million acres given to indians, 90 million left

over

Arapahoe “Ghost Dance”, Arapahoe “Ghost Dance”, 18901890

Arapahoe “Ghost Dance”, Arapahoe “Ghost Dance”, 18901890

Ghost dance

• Resurrection

• Fervor

• Crazy horse/Sitting bull

• Outlawed by whites

Chief Big Foot’s Lifeless Chief Big Foot’s Lifeless BodyBody

Wounded Knee, SD, 1890Wounded Knee, SD, 1890

Chief Big Foot’s Lifeless Chief Big Foot’s Lifeless BodyBody

Wounded Knee, SD, 1890Wounded Knee, SD, 1890

Wounded knee Dec. 29, 1891

• Last major indian event, considered the end of hostile actions

• Began with Col. Forsyth attempting to disarm the Sioux.

• Gun discharges, US Cav opens fire at close range with cannon and gatling guns.

• 88 man, 44 women, and 18 children killed

Battlefield orphan

Indian Reservations TodayIndian Reservations TodayIndian Reservations TodayIndian Reservations Today

Crazy Horse Monument:Crazy Horse Monument:Black Hills, SDBlack Hills, SD

Crazy Horse Monument:Crazy Horse Monument:Black Hills, SDBlack Hills, SD

Lakota ChiefLakota ChiefLakota ChiefLakota Chief

Korczak Ziolkowski, SculptorKorczak Ziolkowski, SculptorCrazy Horse MonumentCrazy Horse Monument

Korczak Ziolkowski, SculptorKorczak Ziolkowski, SculptorCrazy Horse MonumentCrazy Horse Monument

His vision of the finished His vision of the finished memorial.memorial.

His vision of the finished His vision of the finished memorial.memorial.

Mt. Rushmore: Black Hills, SDMt. Rushmore: Black Hills, SDMt. Rushmore: Black Hills, SDMt. Rushmore: Black Hills, SD

Native Stereotypes

• Espera Oscar DeCorti

Commercial agriculture

• Mass production of factories being applied to farms.

• Commercial farmers specialized in cash crops, not self sufficiency– Makes them dependent on others.

• Railroads

• Banks, interest rates

– Unlike industrialists, they could not control production rates and price

Farm Overproduction• Massive growth of farming in many nations

led to a increase in “supply”

• Prices plummet

• Farmers all over the world can ship their product more easily because of communication and transportation achievements.

• 1880’s many farms mortgaged and in debt to bank.

Farmers Grievances

• Railroads- RR charges variable rates on goods,– farmers paid more.– Certain regions paid more– Also controlled storage areas at terminals and charged

high rates

• Banks– High interest, not enough money to pay off debt-

foarmers supported more money- inflation– Prices- Too little for their crop, too much for things

they bought.

The Agrarian Malaise

• Cultural solitude/isolation on plains

• Poor public services education

• Urbanization-(hayseeds)

• A new sense of sectionalism

Destruction of the Buffalo Destruction of the Buffalo HerdsHerds

Destruction of the Buffalo Destruction of the Buffalo HerdsHerds

The near extinction of the buffalo.The near extinction of the buffalo.

National ParksNational ParksNational ParksNational Parks

Yellowstone National ParkYellowstone National ParkYellowstone National ParkYellowstone National Park

First national First national park established park established

in 1872.in 1872.

Conservation MovementConservation MovementConservation MovementConservation Movement

John MuirJohn Muir

With President With President Theodore Theodore RooseveltRoosevelt

Sierra ClubSierra ClubSierra ClubSierra Club

Founded in 1892Founded in 1892