Conquest and SurvivalChapter 18

Closing the Western Frontier

Pages 606-612• “Buffalo Wars”• “Indian ‘Wars”

BUFFALO SLIDE SHOW

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.

Estimates range from 20-30 millionbuffalo that existed in 1800By 1890, the estimates range from 1000-2000

Buffalo in Custer SD

Badlands, SD

Badlands, SD

Buffalo Consequences

• Eliminated traditional way of life for multiple tribes

• Forced relocations• Starvation and the spread of disease• Intertribal warfare• External warfare

Colonel John Colonel John ChivingtonChivington

Colonel John Colonel John ChivingtonChivington

Kill and scalp all, big Kill and scalp all, big and little!and little!

Sand Creek, CO Sand Creek, CO MassacreMassacre

November 29, 1864November 29, 1864

Sand Creek Massacre

• On November 29, 1864, Colorado volunteer soldiers attacked an encampment of Cheyenne and Arapaho along Sand Creek. Over 150 Indians were killed in the attack, many of whom were women and children.

•  “Damn any man who sympathizes with Indians! ... I have come to kill Indians, and believe it is right and honorable to use any means under God's heaven to kill Indians.”—- Col. John Milton Chivington, U.S. Army

• “I saw the bodies of those lying there cut all to pieces, worse mutilated than any I ever saw before; the women cut all to pieces ... With knives; scalped; their brains knocked out; children two or three months old; all ages lying there, from sucking infants up to warriors ... By whom were they mutilated? By the United States troops ...”—- John S. Smith, Congressional Testimony of Mr. John S. Smith, 1865

The Battle of Little Big The Battle of Little Big HornHorn18761876

The Battle of Little Big The Battle of Little Big HornHorn18761876

Crazy Horse

Mt. Rushmore

Quick Recap• Desire for land led

to violations of treaties

• Buffalo were eliminated from tribal hunting grounds

• Many Indian tribes felt their only choice was to fight (or die)

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

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

Nez Percé Nez Percé tribal tribal

retreat (1877)retreat (1877)

Transformation of Indian Societies

• A Century of Dishonor• Dawes Severalty Act• Ghost Dance

– Massacre at Wounded Knee

Helen Hunt JacksonHelen Hunt JacksonHelen Hunt JacksonHelen Hunt Jackson

A Century of A Century of DishonorDishonor (1881) (1881)

A Century of A Century of DishonorDishonor (1881) (1881)

“Are there any words to fitly characterize such treatment as this from a great, powerful, rich nation, to a handful of helpless people? “

Dawes Act (1887)

• Goal = Assimilation• Conditions:

– No tribal land – individuals could receive an allotment of 160 acres

– Indian religion, ceremonies, languages, clothing and hair styles forbidden

– “Kill the Indian and save the man”

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

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

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

Miners, Ranchers and Farmers

• Mining Towns• Closing of the Frontier

– Cattle Drives– Homesteads

• Farmers

ProspectingProspectingProspectingProspecting

Mining Centers: Mining Centers: 19001900

Mining Centers: Mining Centers: 19001900

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

TheThe

CattleCattle

TrailsTrails

TheThe

CattleCattle

TrailsTrails

Barbed WireBarbed WireBarbed WireBarbed Wire

Joseph Joseph GliddenGliddenJoseph Joseph GliddenGliddenBARBED WIRE = END OF THE

OPEN RANGE

Populating the Plains

• Homestead Act – 160 acres free based on settlement and improvement (farming)– Most settlers purchase land– Land quality typically less than desirable

• Land purchase – railroads, speculators, state governments

• Railroad = key to rapid settlement

Homesteads From Public LandsHomesteads From Public LandsHomesteads From Public LandsHomesteads From Public Lands

African African AmericanAmerican

“Exoduster”“Exoduster”HomesteaderHomesteader

ss

African Americans Moving WestAfrican Americans Moving West

Frontier Settlements: Frontier Settlements:

1870-18901870-1890

Frontier Settlements: Frontier Settlements:

1870-18901870-1890

New Agricultural TechnologyNew Agricultural TechnologyNew Agricultural TechnologyNew Agricultural Technology

““Prairie Fan”Prairie Fan”Water PumpWater Pump

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

Quick Recap• Mining began as an

individual enterprise but the complexity and cost soon changed it to a corporate enterprise

• Indian removal and the railroad opened land for ranching

• Improvements in agricultural technology and increased demand created the need for larger farms

OLD MACDONALD

Farm Game !!!

The Rules…

1. You are starting with $10002. You may plant up to 160 acres3. You must plant in multiples of 10

acres4. You may purchase animals in lots of

15. You may rent additional acres at a

rate of $50 per 100 acres

The Math…

1. Multiply the Number of acres planted per crop times the Cost per acre and enter the result in Total Cost of Crop

2. Multiply the Number of Animals times the Cost per animal and enter the result in Total Cost of Animals

3. Enter any remaining money in the Savings field

Select Crops for Planting Now

•1885

1885

• A serious lack of early spring rain almost destroyed the wheat, barley, and oat crop in the Great Plains.

• The price of corn, beans, field peas, and tobacco are up because of the drought.

• Cattle prices are down due to large quantities sold in Texas.

• Sheep and hog prices remained stable.

Crop Returns 1885 (Multiply amount you planted by this number)

• Corn 2• Beans 3• Wheat 1• Barley 1• Oats 1• Field Hay 2• Tobacco 2• Field Peas 2• Cattle 1• Sheep 2• Hogs 2

Calculate your profits!!

• Multiply the Total Cost of Crop (and/or Animal) times the Investment Return number and enter the result in Income.

• Sum the Income fields (plus Savings if you have any)

• Enter the result in Total Profit

Select Crops for Planting Now

•1886

1886

• An epidemic of Mad Cow disease (Loberitis) has killed most of the cattle. A strain of the disease (Glorberia) has infected large numbers of sheep. As a result hog prices are at an all time high.

• Abundant rain has produced excellent crops.

• The price of field hay has declined as a result of lower numbers of cattle.

Crop Returns 1886 (Multiply amount you planted by this number)

• Corn 2• Beans 2• Wheat 2• Barley 2• Oats 2• Field Hay 0• Tobacco 1• Field Peas 2• Cattle 0• Sheep 1.5• Hogs 3

Calculate your profits!!

Select Crops for Planting Now

•1887

1887

• Nature deals a crushing blow to the farmers of the Great Plains.– Grasshoppers have infested the crops

and severely damaged most crops– Hot, dry weather has reduced the

weight of both sheep and hogs which has reduced their value

• However, cattle prices are high due to the lack of supply

Crop Returns 1887 (Multiply amount you planted by this number)

• Corn 1• Beans 1• Wheat 1• Barley 1• Oats 1• Field Hay 1• Tobacco 1• Field Peas 1• Cattle 3• Sheep .5• Hogs .5

Calculate your profits!!

How much money do you have?