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Looking to the West (1860-1900)
Looking to the West (1860-1900)
◊Moving West◊Moving West
The WestThe West
◊ Push Factors• Crowding back East• Displaced farmers• Former slaves• Eastern farmland
expensive• Ethnic and religious
repression in Europe• Haven for outlaws
◊ Push Factors• Crowding back East• Displaced farmers• Former slaves• Eastern farmland
expensive• Ethnic and religious
repression in Europe• Haven for outlaws
◊ Pull Factors• Government
incentives◊ Pacific Railway Act◊ Morrill Land-Grant
Act◊ Homestead Act
• Private Property◊ Miners◊ Ranchers◊ Farmers
◊ Pull Factors• Government
incentives◊ Pacific Railway Act◊ Morrill Land-Grant
Act◊ Homestead Act
• Private Property◊ Miners◊ Ranchers◊ Farmers
“Push” Factors◊ The Civil War had displaced
thousands of farmers, former slaves, and other workers.
◊ Eastern farmland was too costly.◊ Failed entrepreneurs sought a
second chance in a new locations.
◊ Ethnic and religious repression caused people to seek the freedom of the west.
◊ Outlaws sought refuge.
“Push” Factors◊ The Civil War had displaced
thousands of farmers, former slaves, and other workers.
◊ Eastern farmland was too costly.◊ Failed entrepreneurs sought a
second chance in a new locations.
◊ Ethnic and religious repression caused people to seek the freedom of the west.
◊ Outlaws sought refuge.
“Pull” Factors◊ The Pacific Railway Acts of
1862 and 1864◊ Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862◊ Land speculators◊ Homestead Act, 1862◊ Legally enforceable property
rights
When geographers study reasons for major migrations, they look at what they call push-pull factors-events and conditions that either force (push) people to move elsewhere or strongly attract (pull) them to do so. Here are some push-pull factors for moving west.
The Lure of the WestThe Lure of the West
GO WEST, YOUNG MAN!GO WEST, YOUNG MAN!
◊ The Myth of the Frontier
◊ “Manifest Destiny”
◊ Civil War over
◊ Adventure◊ Resources◊ Wealth (Gold,
Cattle, Land)
◊ The Myth of the Frontier
◊ “Manifest Destiny”
◊ Civil War over
◊ Adventure◊ Resources◊ Wealth (Gold,
Cattle, Land)
Settlers From Far and WideSettlers From Far and Wide
◊ German-speaking immigrants arrived seeking farmland. They brought the Lutheran religion with its emphasis on hard work and education.
◊ Lutherans from Scandinavia settled the northern plains from Iowa to Minnesota to the Dakotas, many pursuing dairy farming.
◊ Irish, Italians, European Jews, and Chinese settled in concentrated communities on the West coast. They took jobs in mining and railroad construction that brought them to the American interior.
◊ After the Civil War, thousands of African Americans rode or walked westward, often fleeing violence and exploitation.
◊ Benjamin “Pap” Singleton led groups of southern blacks on a mass “Exodus,” a trek inspired by the biblical account of the Israelites’ flight from Egypt to a prophesied homeland. Hence, the settlers called themselves Exodusters. Some 50,000 or more Exodusters migrated west.
◊ German-speaking immigrants arrived seeking farmland. They brought the Lutheran religion with its emphasis on hard work and education.
◊ Lutherans from Scandinavia settled the northern plains from Iowa to Minnesota to the Dakotas, many pursuing dairy farming.
◊ Irish, Italians, European Jews, and Chinese settled in concentrated communities on the West coast. They took jobs in mining and railroad construction that brought them to the American interior.
◊ After the Civil War, thousands of African Americans rode or walked westward, often fleeing violence and exploitation.
◊ Benjamin “Pap” Singleton led groups of southern blacks on a mass “Exodus,” a trek inspired by the biblical account of the Israelites’ flight from Egypt to a prophesied homeland. Hence, the settlers called themselves Exodusters. Some 50,000 or more Exodusters migrated west.
Pacific Railway ActsPacific Railway Acts
◊ 1862, 1864◊ Large land grants
to Union Pacific RR and Central Pacific RR
◊ 175 million acres
◊ 1862, 1864◊ Large land grants
to Union Pacific RR and Central Pacific RR
◊ 175 million acres
Morrill Land Grant ActMorrill Land Grant Act◊ 1862◊ State governments received
millions of acres of land to:• Sell • Create land grant colleges for
agricultural and mechanical arts
◊ 1862◊ State governments received
millions of acres of land to:• Sell • Create land grant colleges for
agricultural and mechanical arts
Homestead ActHomestead Act
◊ 1862◊ Small fee, settlers
received 160 acres if:• 21 yrs old• Citizens or immigrants
filing for citizenship• Minimum sized house• Lived on claim 6
months out of the year• Farm the land for 5
years in a row
◊ 372,000 farms◊ 80 million acres
◊ 1862◊ Small fee, settlers
received 160 acres if:• 21 yrs old• Citizens or immigrants
filing for citizenship• Minimum sized house• Lived on claim 6
months out of the year• Farm the land for 5
years in a row
◊ 372,000 farms◊ 80 million acres
ExodustersExodusters◊ Free blacks looking for new start after the Civil War◊ Most headed to Kansas (“pulled” by the Homestead Act and free
land.◊ Exodusters based on the biblical “Exodus” of the Hebrews from
Egypt - leaving bondage for freedom in the “Promised Land”
◊ Free blacks looking for new start after the Civil War◊ Most headed to Kansas (“pulled” by the Homestead Act and free
land.◊ Exodusters based on the biblical “Exodus” of the Hebrews from
Egypt - leaving bondage for freedom in the “Promised Land”
Exodusters - Nebraska Connection:Exodusters - Nebraska Connection:
Homesteader HomesHomesteader Homes
◊ Built with available materials (sod)
◊ Small◊ Functional as a
shelter
◊ Built with available materials (sod)
◊ Small◊ Functional as a
shelter
QuickTime™ and aSorenson Video 3 decompressorare needed to see this picture.
19_5.jpg19_5.jpg
Homesteader lifestyleHomesteader lifestyle
◊ Difficult◊ Subsistence
farmers◊ Some
livestock◊ Grasshoppers◊ Storms◊ Distance◊ Lack of
building materials
◊ Difficult◊ Subsistence
farmers◊ Some
livestock◊ Grasshoppers◊ Storms◊ Distance◊ Lack of
building materials
QuickTime™ and aSorenson Video 3 decompressorare needed to see this picture.
Homesteader ConclusionHomesteader Conclusion
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