The Changing FrontierThe Changing Frontier(1850-1900)(1850-1900)

Chapter 9Chapter 9

Section 3Section 3

Starting about 1850, easterners began to Starting about 1850, easterners began to view the so-called Great American Desert view the so-called Great American Desert in a new light.in a new light.

The settling of this region occurred in three The settling of this region occurred in three stages.stages.

First came people hoping to strike rich First came people hoping to strike rich deposits of gold and silver in the western deposits of gold and silver in the western mountains.mountains.

Then came people who hoped to make Then came people who hoped to make their fortune raising and selling cattle.their fortune raising and selling cattle.

Finally came the homesteaders (farm Finally came the homesteaders (farm families) who hoped for enough rain to families) who hoped for enough rain to raise wheat and corn for profit.raise wheat and corn for profit.

Mining FrontierMining Frontier The news of a gold strike in the Rocky The news of a gold strike in the Rocky

Mountains touched off a rush westward in 1859 Mountains touched off a rush westward in 1859 similar to the rush to California ten years earlier.similar to the rush to California ten years earlier.

More than 100,000 people crossed the Great More than 100,000 people crossed the Great Plains in wagons and searched for gold near Plains in wagons and searched for gold near Pike’s Peak in Colorado. Pike’s Peak in Colorado.

In later years, thousands of others were lured In later years, thousands of others were lured into the western mountains by news of silver in into the western mountains by news of silver in Nevada, copper in Montana, and gold in the Nevada, copper in Montana, and gold in the Black Hills of the Dakotas.Black Hills of the Dakotas.

In hundreds of remote places, mining towns In hundreds of remote places, mining towns sprang up almost overnight.sprang up almost overnight.

Gold and SilverGold and Silver The Comstock load was one of the largest The Comstock load was one of the largest

silver mines in the world.silver mines in the world. Mines created boom towns.Mines created boom towns. Boom towns were communities that Boom towns were communities that

appeared overnight to service the mines.appeared overnight to service the mines.

Gold and SilverGold and Silver

Inflation (the prices of Inflation (the prices of goods) was high in boom goods) was high in boom towns.towns.

Ghost towns were Ghost towns were abandoned boom towns abandoned boom towns were only ghosts lived.were only ghosts lived.

Very often these gold and Very often these gold and silver mines were located silver mines were located on Native American on Native American lands.lands.

Cattle FrontierCattle Frontier

In Texas in the 1860s and 1870s the most In Texas in the 1860s and 1870s the most promising way to make a living on the promising way to make a living on the frontier was to hire a crew of cowboys for frontier was to hire a crew of cowboys for driving cattle to market.driving cattle to market.

Millions of acres of the grassy plains were Millions of acres of the grassy plains were regarded by cattle owners as open grazing regarded by cattle owners as open grazing land.land.

In other words, cattle herds were privately In other words, cattle herds were privately owned, but the open range was used by owned, but the open range was used by all.all.

Cattle KingdomCattle Kingdom

Cattle ranching became big Cattle ranching became big business in the Great Plains.business in the Great Plains.

American Cowhands learned American Cowhands learned their trade from Spanish their trade from Spanish vaqueros.vaqueros.

The cattle kingdom declined The cattle kingdom declined as farmers moved onto the as farmers moved onto the plains and fenced off their plains and fenced off their property.property.

Farming FrontierFarming Frontier The passage of the Homestead Act in 1862 invited The passage of the Homestead Act in 1862 invited

eastern farmers to try their luck settling on the Great eastern farmers to try their luck settling on the Great Plains.Plains.

Those who did so were often referred to as Those who did so were often referred to as homesteaders.homesteaders.

Anyone who wished could acquire 160 acres of Anyone who wished could acquire 160 acres of western land simply by settling on it for five years.western land simply by settling on it for five years.

Although intended for homesteaders, much of the land Although intended for homesteaders, much of the land made available under the act was grabbed by made available under the act was grabbed by speculators (those who buy something not for use, but speculators (those who buy something not for use, but only later sell to others at a higher price.)only later sell to others at a higher price.)

What minority group What minority group would take advantage would take advantage of the Homestead Act of the Homestead Act

of 1862?of 1862?

Homestead Act of 1862Homestead Act of 1862

Exodusters= African Exodusters= African Americans who hoped Americans who hoped for a new life.for a new life.

Named themselves after Named themselves after the Jewish exodus from the Jewish exodus from Egypt in the Bible.Egypt in the Bible.

Many whites tried to stop Many whites tried to stop their labor force from their labor force from leaving the South.leaving the South.

Violent Conflict in the “Wild West”Violent Conflict in the “Wild West” The 25 year period after the The 25 year period after the

Civil War (1865-1890) is the Civil War (1865-1890) is the period most often dramatized period most often dramatized in western movies and TV in western movies and TV movies.movies.

Gunfights did occur in the Gunfights did occur in the mining towns and cow towns mining towns and cow towns of the newly settled West, of the newly settled West, but the fights did not erupt but the fights did not erupt every minute, as in the every minute, as in the movies. movies.

Ranchers Against FarmersRanchers Against Farmers One cause of violent conflict was the barbed wire that One cause of violent conflict was the barbed wire that

farmers used to fence in their homesteads.farmers used to fence in their homesteads. The fencing angered cattle owners, who had always The fencing angered cattle owners, who had always

treated the grasslands as open range.treated the grasslands as open range. Cowboys used wire cutters to open a path through the Cowboys used wire cutters to open a path through the

farmers’ fences and let their cattle through.farmers’ fences and let their cattle through. Gun battles, or “barbed-wire wars,” broke out between Gun battles, or “barbed-wire wars,” broke out between

farmers and cattle ranchers.farmers and cattle ranchers. In the 1880s the ranchers conceded defeat by fencing In the 1880s the ranchers conceded defeat by fencing

in their own grazing lands. in their own grazing lands. After that the days of the open range were over.After that the days of the open range were over.

Vigilantes Against OutlawsVigilantes Against Outlaws

Mining camps and cattle towns attracted many Mining camps and cattle towns attracted many young men who were in a hurry to make their young men who were in a hurry to make their fortunes.fortunes.

Many found that it was easier to steal another Many found that it was easier to steal another miner’s gold or rustle (steal) another rancher’s miner’s gold or rustle (steal) another rancher’s cattle than to obtain them by honest work.cattle than to obtain them by honest work.

To defend themselves and their property, most To defend themselves and their property, most westerners carried guns.westerners carried guns.

Sometimes they used them to settle personal Sometimes they used them to settle personal quarrels in shootouts (later made famous in quarrels in shootouts (later made famous in Western movies).Western movies).

VigilantesVigilantes

In a remote town, honest citizens could not In a remote town, honest citizens could not always rely on the government officials to always rely on the government officials to capture cattle thieves and bank robbers.capture cattle thieves and bank robbers.

Therefore they carried out the law in their own Therefore they carried out the law in their own way as vigilantes (a self-appointed police force).way as vigilantes (a self-appointed police force).

A suspected outlaw might be hanged without a A suspected outlaw might be hanged without a full trial or any trial at all.full trial or any trial at all.

These crude procedures for dealing with crime These crude procedures for dealing with crime on the frontier were known as vigilante justice.on the frontier were known as vigilante justice.

Industrialization and the FrontierIndustrialization and the Frontier

Role of the RailroadsRole of the Railroads Railroad companies were even more eager than Railroad companies were even more eager than

the U.S. government to encourage farmers to go the U.S. government to encourage farmers to go west.west.

After all, a railroad’s chief business was hauling After all, a railroad’s chief business was hauling freight from one place to another.freight from one place to another.

If there were no settlers on the empty plains, If there were no settlers on the empty plains, there would be no business for a western there would be no business for a western railroad.railroad.

To recruit settlers, railroad companies sent To recruit settlers, railroad companies sent agents to Europe as well as U.S. cities.agents to Europe as well as U.S. cities.

Railroads’ land grants from the U.S. government Railroads’ land grants from the U.S. government were offered for sale to would-be settlers at were offered for sale to would-be settlers at bargain prices.bargain prices.

Potential for ProfitPotential for Profit Railroads were crucial to the cattle drivers from Texas Railroads were crucial to the cattle drivers from Texas

that altered life on the Plains.that altered life on the Plains. The end of the cowboys’ long journey was the railroad The end of the cowboys’ long journey was the railroad

depot in Abilene, Kansas.depot in Abilene, Kansas. Here the cattle were herded into railroad cars for Here the cattle were herded into railroad cars for

shipment to the slaughter pens in Chicago and from shipment to the slaughter pens in Chicago and from there (as meat) to the restaurants and butcher shops there (as meat) to the restaurants and butcher shops of the East.of the East.

In the 1860s a long horned steer brought in Texas for In the 1860s a long horned steer brought in Texas for $3 could bring between $30 and $40 when sold to a $3 could bring between $30 and $40 when sold to a Chicago meatpacker. Chicago meatpacker.

Without the railroads as the connecting link, the Without the railroads as the connecting link, the cattleman’s profit making enterprise would have been cattleman’s profit making enterprise would have been impossible.impossible.

Role of New TechnologyRole of New Technology

Farming the hard sod of the plains posed Farming the hard sod of the plains posed a double problem.a double problem.

For one thing, rainfall was slight.For one thing, rainfall was slight. For another, there were no trees from For another, there were no trees from

which to make the rail fences commonly which to make the rail fences commonly used in the East to enclose sheep and used in the East to enclose sheep and other farm animals.other farm animals.

An old idea and a new invention went a long An old idea and a new invention went a long way toward solving both problems.way toward solving both problems.

1)1) Windmills on a homesteader’s land provided Windmills on a homesteader’s land provided the power for pumping up underground water.the power for pumping up underground water.

2)2) Barbed wire (invented in 1874 ) enabled Barbed wire (invented in 1874 ) enabled farmers to fence their lands without using farmers to fence their lands without using much wood. In addition, improved steel plows much wood. In addition, improved steel plows enabled farmers to cut deep into the hard enabled farmers to cut deep into the hard ground.ground.

Life on the FrontierLife on the Frontier The first homesteaders to settle the Great The first homesteaders to settle the Great

Plains coped daily with a daunting number Plains coped daily with a daunting number of hazards and hardships of life on the of hazards and hardships of life on the frontier.frontier.

Sod Houses and DugoutsSod Houses and Dugouts Because of the absence of trees, Because of the absence of trees,

homesteaders built their first homes out of homesteaders built their first homes out of bricks made from the prairie sod.bricks made from the prairie sod.

If the ground was hilly, they might simply dig a If the ground was hilly, they might simply dig a room out of the hillside for shelter.room out of the hillside for shelter.

Doors and windows were covered with blankets Doors and windows were covered with blankets and hides.and hides.

If it rained, water seeped through the sod roof If it rained, water seeped through the sod roof and formed puddles on the dirt floor of the and formed puddles on the dirt floor of the typical one-room cabin.typical one-room cabin.

If it did not rain for months at a time, crops If it did not rain for months at a time, crops withered, and dust covered everything the withered, and dust covered everything the family owned.family owned.

Farmers on the Great Plains were separated by Farmers on the Great Plains were separated by great distances.great distances.

Occasionally neighborly get-togethers provided Occasionally neighborly get-togethers provided the only social life.the only social life.

After several seasons of disappointing After several seasons of disappointing harvests, dust storms, hot summers, cold harvests, dust storms, hot summers, cold winters, and uncomfortable living, many farm winters, and uncomfortable living, many farm families gave up and moved back east.families gave up and moved back east.

The Role of WomenThe Role of Women

For women especially, life on the frontier was For women especially, life on the frontier was difficult and lonely.difficult and lonely.

They performed a never-ending round of daily They performed a never-ending round of daily chores.chores.

They worked the land, fed the chickens, They worked the land, fed the chickens, churned the butter, cooked the food, sewed the churned the butter, cooked the food, sewed the linens, made the clothing, and tended the linens, made the clothing, and tended the children.children.

The number of children tended was often ten or The number of children tended was often ten or more.more.

It was common for a woman to do a full It was common for a woman to do a full morning of work, give birth in the afternoon, and morning of work, give birth in the afternoon, and return to her chores the next morning.return to her chores the next morning.

Women were a civilizing force on the frontier.Women were a civilizing force on the frontier. When they arrived in rough and tumble mining When they arrived in rough and tumble mining

camps and cow towns originally populated by camps and cow towns originally populated by men, they managed to build more settled and men, they managed to build more settled and peaceful communities.peaceful communities.

They made sure their towns had librarians, They made sure their towns had librarians, schools, even theaters.schools, even theaters.

They acted as teachers, missionaries, libraries, They acted as teachers, missionaries, libraries, and occasionally as doctors and dentists.and occasionally as doctors and dentists.

It was in the western territory It was in the western territory of Wyoming that women first of Wyoming that women first achieved the right to vote, in achieved the right to vote, in 1869.1869.

By 1910 women in most By 1910 women in most western states voted in large western states voted in large numbers, while most women numbers, while most women in the East were stilled in the East were stilled denied voting rights.denied voting rights.

One reason for the West’s One reason for the West’s leadership was men’s leadership was men’s realization that western realization that western women had made many women had made many sacrifices and had played a sacrifices and had played a crucial role in settling the last crucial role in settling the last frontier.frontier.

Native Americans of the PlainsNative Americans of the Plains

There were many different cultures, There were many different cultures, languages, and ways of life.languages, and ways of life.

Most Plains Indians used tamed Spanish Most Plains Indians used tamed Spanish horses to hunt buffalo.horses to hunt buffalo.

Buffalo got in the way of trains and were Buffalo got in the way of trains and were hunted to almost extinction by Railroad hunted to almost extinction by Railroad Companies.Companies.

Woman had high social status in Native Woman had high social status in Native American cultures.American cultures.

Dawes Act of 1887Dawes Act of 1887

Encouraged Native Americans to become Encouraged Native Americans to become farmers.farmers.

Encouraged Native American to assimilate Encouraged Native American to assimilate into U.S. culture.into U.S. culture.

Provided land to individual families.Provided land to individual families. This did not work because the Native This did not work because the Native

American thought the land was community American thought the land was community property for riding and hunting.property for riding and hunting.

Farmers UniteFarmers Unite

Farmers faced growing problems.Farmers faced growing problems.

1)1) The more they grew the less money they The more they grew the less money they made.made.

2)2) Most farmers were in debt.Most farmers were in debt.

3)3) They were dependent on the railroad They were dependent on the railroad companies to transport their grain to companies to transport their grain to market. (Expensive)market. (Expensive)

4)4) Winters on the Plains were harsh.Winters on the Plains were harsh.

Farmers UniteFarmers Unite Farmers formed mutual aid societies. Farmers formed mutual aid societies. 1.1. The National GrangeThe National Grange2.2. Farmers AllianceFarmers Alliance3.3. Populist PartyPopulist Party These societies and political parties brought down These societies and political parties brought down

prices.prices. Farmers joined with the labor unions to form the Farmers joined with the labor unions to form the

Populist Party.Populist Party. ““Populist” comes from the root word people (the Populist” comes from the root word people (the

people’s party)people’s party) It represented the working classes of farmers and It represented the working classes of farmers and

industry workers. industry workers.

Native American WarsNative American Wars

The Laramie AgreementThe Laramie Agreement

In late 1875, Sioux In late 1875, Sioux and Cheyenne and Cheyenne Indians were angered Indians were angered at the whites at the whites travelling into their travelling into their sacred lands in the sacred lands in the Black Hills.Black Hills.

Gold had seen many Gold had seen many miners entering the miners entering the sacred land sacred land

Promises BrokenPromises Broken

The US Government The US Government had promised Red had promised Red Cloud that white Cloud that white settlers would not be settlers would not be allowed to settle here. allowed to settle here. This was part of the This was part of the Fort Laramie Treaty.Fort Laramie Treaty.

The Sioux gathered The Sioux gathered with Sitting Bull to with Sitting Bull to fight for their lands. fight for their lands.

CUSTERCUSTER

To force the large To force the large Indian army back to the Indian army back to the reservations, the Army reservations, the Army sent Lt. Colonel George sent Lt. Colonel George Custer and the Seventh Custer and the Seventh Cavalry. Cavalry.

Spotting the Sioux Spotting the Sioux village about fifteen village about fifteen miles away along the miles away along the Rosebud River on June Rosebud River on June 25, Custer also found a 25, Custer also found a nearby group of about nearby group of about forty warriors. forty warriors.

Out NumberedOut Numbered

Ignoring orders to Ignoring orders to waitwait, he decided to , he decided to attack before they attack before they could alert the main could alert the main party.party.

He did not realize that He did not realize that the number of the number of warriors in the village warriors in the village numbered numbered three three timestimes his strength. his strength.

Crazy HorseCrazy Horse

Cheyenne and Hunkpapa Cheyenne and Hunkpapa Sioux together crossed Sioux together crossed the river and slammed the river and slammed into the advancing into the advancing soldiers, forcing them soldiers, forcing them back back

Meanwhile, another force, Meanwhile, another force, largely Oglala Sioux largely Oglala Sioux under Crazy Horse's under Crazy Horse's command, surrounded command, surrounded Custer and his men in a Custer and his men in a pincer move. They began pincer move. They began pouring in gunfire and pouring in gunfire and arrows.arrows.

Last StandLast Stand

As the Indians closed As the Indians closed in, Custer ordered his in, Custer ordered his men to shoot their men to shoot their horses and stack the horses and stack the carcasses to form a carcasses to form a wall, but they provided wall, but they provided little protection against little protection against bullets.bullets.

In less than an hour, In less than an hour, Custer and his men Custer and his men were killed in the worst were killed in the worst American military American military disaster ever.disaster ever.

REVENGEREVENGE Little Bighorn showed Little Bighorn showed

the Indians' power. They the Indians' power. They had achieved their had achieved their greatest victorygreatest victory

Outraged over the death Outraged over the death of a popular Civil War of a popular Civil War leader the US leader the US Government fought backGovernment fought back

A) 1872 Gold Discovered in the black Hills

B) Sioux, Cheyennes, Arapahos United

C) Battle of Wounded Knee

D) Defeat of the 7th Cavalry

E) Many Indians fled to Canada

F) Red Cloud’s peace treaty ignored

G) Sitting Bull became the most famous Indian chief

H) US Government did not stop the miners entering the Black Hill

I) US Government planned to defeat the Indians

J) Indians sent to reservations

K) A famous Indian Victory

L) US troops sent in to control miners

M) Black Hills sacred-invaded by white miners